Well the first thing I want to say is that men have breasts, and we get breast cancer also. This became a reality for me in early 2019. To say that it came as a complete shock to me is an understatement, because I was totally ignorant of the fact this was something men had to worry about. Most people I suspect have a family member or knows someone that has been affected by this terrible disease. But when you’re informed that this time it’s you, it’s absolutely devastating news. You go through so many emotions trying to make sense of it all.

My journey began with me taking a shower one morning and feeling a lump in my breast. It wasn’t painful at all, and I just chalked it up to old age creeping up on me. The thought of breast cancer never occurred to me because in my mind that was a “woman’s thing”, and I pretty much put it out of my mind. Fortunately for me, at my next doctors visit, I did remember to mention the lump. And when my doctor felt it he said that I needed to be tested. And subsequent tests determined that I indeed had breast cancer. I’m blessed that it was caught relatively early, and I underwent 7 weeks of radiation treatments. I didn’t have to endure chemotherapy treatments like others that I’d met had to do.

So men, the main point I want to get across to you is that if you ever feel a lump in your breast, or have fluid coming from them, please get to a doctor ASAP. It may be nothing, but you need to find out if there’s a problem. Early detection is crucial. I’ve learned that breast cancer is more fatal in men because it tends to be caught at a later stage with us.

In closing, I’ve got to give a special shout out to all the doctors and their entire staffs,
for taking such excellent care of me, and helping me get through this traumatic experience. So doctors Victor Tennebaum, John Kehoe, Anella Bayshtok, and Phyllis Hyde, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.