Pink and blue, men get breast cancer too

Traveltext

Pink and blue, men get breast cancer too

Traveltext

Men with breast cancer have a lesser chance of survival than women. It is generally recognised that this is because they are diagnosed later than women since they and their health practitioners are not recognising symptoms of the disease early enough. And the lack of male-specific clinical research and trials means that treatment for men is based on that for women.

Because it is important to raise awareness of one of the most prevalent cancers in women, pink has been chosen to denote the disease. But is this not reinforcing the common perception that males don't get breast cancer?

As a man who is happy to talk about his breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, I am quick to point out that the care I received was first class and as equal to that of the many women I was treated alongside.

Last year, I was invited to address a crowd of Pinktober fun runners raising money for breast cancer research in my small town. Wearing a blue t-shirt to contrast the mass of pink in the crowd, I wanted to signify the fact that while 99% of breast cancer cases are women, men need to be made aware that they can get breast cancer too.

So, when the ubiquitous pink ribbons and associated merchandise rolls out each October for breast cancer awareness, let's consider including a small patch of blue.

sbelizabeth

Traveltext, you're probably aware that many of us find the whole pink thing to be offensive. Bless you for soldiering on in your blue shirt--you must have felt like a salmon swimming upstream in a river of pink!

Several years ago my husband found a lump in his breast and had a mammogram. It was a cyst (thank you, Lord) but that was when the very real potential of breast cancer in men even entered our awareness.

If we women feel marketed and infantilized by the pink October throngs, you must feel like an neglected outsider! Thank you for representing the men with this disease.

Bren-2007

Traveltext ... that is so cool that your were able to speak at the Pinktober fun runner. I will happily wear a little blue with my pink ribbon.

hugs

Bren

steelrose

Traveltext,

I love your post! I lost my dad to this disease in 1997, and I'm so heartened to see men like yourself speaking up and speaking out. I wear no pink (ick), but I will happily wear blue this Oct. in honor of the men who stand with us.

Keep talking!!!!

Rose.

sbelizabeth

Traveltext and Steelrose, it's a deal. I'll proudly wear blue this October.

Traveltext

Thanks gals. One percent blue, 99 percent pink!

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pops

I bought a 40$ pink oxford cloth Ralph Lauren shirt  to show solidarity with the sisters. Heck, I'm just glad that I was caught  pretty early with  stage II b . I think there were 20 hot lymph nodes  I had a radical right mastectomy 7/29 /09 . Mid September ,  I started AZT chemo that ended  just before Christmas.  Mid-January '10 I started radiation 33 doses in 40 days .Cut, poisoned, then nuked.  I've been on Tamoxiphen since.  I have had clean checkups so far.  I don't know what I will die from, but it won't be  breast cancer.  I'm in better shape than it found me in. .  A man's pink. H W's blog . He started me down the glass is half  full road.  Since my adventure ended, I have been blessed with 2 grandsons. I have  the best job I've ever had. Life is good.. Too good to waste on negativity 

hugz4u

So inspired by men with BC. Do stop in on the Lymphedema thread where we will welcome you in pink,blue, purple or striped shirts, Large polka dots are fine to.

We love to answer and educate people about this diesease from having even one lymph node out as doctors largely ingore you when you ask about it. My Doc laughed at me saying that i wouldnt get it. Well I got it five years out of the gate. Ugh...thats another story.

Knowlege is power....and you have come to the right place. Your so smart and fortunate to find BCO

Traveltext

Thanks hugz. Love BCO. Hope not to get the dreaded LE, but I know where do go if I do.