Back home!

I've been traveling again. And last week. I am sick of traveling. Travel is nice but once I get on a plane, all I want to do is go home. But this most recent trip was very interesting. This is where I have been this week:

"As a breast cancer advocate, I recently had the opportunity to serve as a consumer reviewer to evaluate research applications submitted to the Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) sponsored by the Department of Defense.  As a consumer reviewer, I was a full voting member, along with prominent scientists, at meetings to help determine how the $120 million appropriated by Congress for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) will be spent on future breast cancer research.

Consumer reviewers represent the collective view of breast cancer survivors and patients, family members, and persons at risk for the disease as we evaluate the impact of each application. As a consumer reviewer, I am honored to be included and always leave with hope for the future of breast cancer as the latest research clearly shows that we are moving closer to a cure.

You can get more information on the Breast Cancer Research Program, including how to serve as a consumer reviewer, at the DOD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Website: http://cdmrp.army.mil."

I can't tell you how optimistic I feel every year when I come back from this trip. And, no I can't tell you anything about the specific research because (a) its confidential and (b) I erased my brain so I don't remember it anyway.

Usually all of us consumer reviewers are women but this year, we had a man join us as he had breast cancer.

More on men with breast cancer

One of every one hundred cases of breast cancer diagnosed will be male. And did you know that one in four men diagnosed with breast cancer will die from it? Two men who were diagnosed with breast cancer and bonded over it, joined to create a new organization called Breast Cancer Brothers to help support men going through this terrible disease.

An independent film is being made about their journey called "Times Like These" 

There are no big research studies on male breast cancer. All their treatments are based on studies done on women. This is so sad.

Another hidden side of breast cancer - male patients

Yes breast cancer can and does occur in men. Less than 0.1 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses are male (I think that's the number - its very low). Until I was diagnosed with breast cancer I had no idea men could get breast cancer. Then a friend's cat died of breast cancer. Basically any animal with the right physiology can get breast cancer.

So if you think its bad to get breast cancer as a woman. How do you think a man would feel if he walked into the breast cancer treatment area and its full of women? Or he had to go for a mammogram in the 'pink area' of the hospital?

I can't imagine what it would like to be dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis and feeling literally like the 'odd man out' in the women focused world of breast cancer. 

I can  think of numerous places and instances during my cancer treatment that I felt was very female focused. Even the exam rooms are filled with pictures, diagrams, and schematics for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment all focused on the female body.

But it happens, men do get breast cancer, and we should welcome them into our world and let them benefit from our experiences. If you know a man with breast cancer, please take a few minutes to reach out to him and see if you can help him in his breast cancer journey.