Thriving After Male Breast Cancer
- “KISS legend Peter Criss, a male breast cancer survivor who recently turned 80, has just released his first solo album since 2007, describing himself as feeling “lucky” to have poured his “heart and soul” into the new music.
- Criss discovered a painful lump in his chest while working out and was later diagnosed with breast cancer. To become “cancer-free,” he underwent a lumpectomy, a procedure in which doctors removed the tumor along with some surrounding tissue.
- Symptoms of male breast cancer can include a lump in the chest or a thickening in the breast tissue, nipple pain, an inverted nipple, discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody, changes to the color or texture of the nipple, and enlarged lymph nodes under the arm.
- Experts say that treating male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. While men have some special considerations, treatment options depend greatly on various factors, including the size of the tumor, how far the cancer cells have spread, and biological and genetic factors that may be powering your cancer.
Speaking to Billboard about his new album, Criss said, “I put my heart and soul into it. My voice, I’m still singing like a bird; boy am I lucky. I felt I was in control and I was enjoying myself; you can hear me laughing on the record.
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Criss’ new album, titled, “Peter Criss,” includes bassists Billy Sheehan, 72, and Matthew Montgomery, 50. It also features guitarists John William Lowery, also known as John 5, and Mike McLaughlin, as well as pianist Paul Shaffer.
The backing vocals are Dennis Collins and Sharon Collins along with Cat Manning.
Criss’ new solo album arrives nearly 18 years after his fifth solo release, which came out through Megaforce Records on July 23, 2007.
He describes the new album as having “a little bit of everything in there.”
Criss explained further to Billboard, “Now that I’m a senior citizen or whatever, I wanted to write a little about politics, a little good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll.
“Music is so powerful, as you know. You can really pour your heart and soul into something…and I did. I hope my fans love it. I promised them I would do a rock album after One For All, and I kept my promise.”
He also mentioned that if the album genuinely impresses fans, he wouldn’t mind ‘getting back on stage and bringing the guys together for a few shows.
“I’m in pretty good condition for an old guy; everything is working, maybe a little bit of arthritis here and there, but I still play the drums a few times a week,” he added.
“So, yeah, I hope it does get to that point. I’m just gonna let it flow and see how my fans accept it.”
It’s truly heartwarming to see Criss thriving and so happy about his new album, especially after his wife shared a message of support on his official website in honor of his 80th birthday.
She wrote, “WOW! What a year for you, my husband!! It’s been a Bad and Good year for you. The bad is, of course, the loss of our dear friend Ace and your brother in music. I am so sorry. I know you’re sorrow every day since Ace’s passing and I try to embrace you with love and comfort but I know, only in God’s time, you will heal from Ace’s loss. A loss like that is life-changing and I am not the one who can heal you from that.
“Now for the good. Congratulations on your Kennedy Center Honor. You, Gene, Paul and Ace – all of you worked very hard and built KISS from the ground up. I am so very proud of you and the boys. Well deserved. All of you have changed the lives of so many women and men in this world in a positive way.”
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Criss’ wife Gigi continued, “And that my husband is nothing more than a Blessing from the Lord. Not everyone is given that gift. There’s a lot of people that work hard but we’re not gifted such an enormous accomplishment.
“And finally, a Big Congratulations for the release of your New Rock Record! The journey of making this record was so fun, so creative, and I’m very proud of you. I love you Peter and I praise God every day for our Blessings together. Happy Birthday, my husband. May God give us another three decades together.”
Peter Criss’ Male Breast Cancer Journey
Back in 2007, the retired American musician, born George Peter John Criscuola, first noticed a painful lump in his chest during a workout.
Despite his discovery, he didn’t rush to get the lump check as his wife had been fighting another type of cancer at the time, according to Rolling Stone.
Then, in February 2008 that a nodule was removed from his chest, ultimately revealing he had breast cancer, which the “KISS” legend recounted as “a nightmare,” admitting it was something he “just couldn’t believe.”
Fortunately, a follow-up surgery a month later successfully removed the cancer before it could spread, avoiding the need for chemotherapy.
Since then, Criss undergoes monthly mammograms to monitor for any recurrence of breast cancer.
When Criss publicly opened up about his cancer battle in 2009, he said, “I fought with it for the first year or two when I had it. Should I go on CNN? Should I discuss it? I prayed hard on it and eventually decided, better me than some tabloid that never says the truth and ruins people’s lives … so I wanted to beat them to the punch.”
“God’s given me five more years, and I’m a devoted Catholic and know it’s a miracle I’ve had when I hear a doctor say that a man’s coming in because he saw my commercial and said, Gee, if Peter Criss can do it I can do it,” he stated.
“It’s an honor to educate people about male breast cancer and reaching out and letting people know about it. I’m so freaked out about it. I’ve gotten many accolades in the 50 years I’ve done this but there’s one no more greater then saving a life and recently that theme has been my calling.”
WATCH: Men Get Breast Cancer Too
Criss ultimately underwent a lumpectomy, a surgical procedure used to remove cancerous or abnormal tissue from the breast.
This type of surgery is often referred to as breast-conserving because, unlike a mastectomy, it removes only the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue, preserving most of the breast. The procedure usually lasts around an hour and is done on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home the same day.
“It’s abnormal to have a lot of pain after a lumpectomy,” says Dr. Sarah Cate, a breast surgeon at Mount Sinai Health System.
For early stage breast cancer, studies have shown that lumpectomy plus radiation is as effective a treatment in preventing a recurrence of breast cancer as mastectomy.
Since his recovery, Criss undergoes mammograms every month to check if the breast cancer has returned. He’s remained “cancer-free,” something he announced in 2009, since his initial treatment.
Understanding Male Breast Cancer
Like women, men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast start growing out of control, typically forming a tumor that’s felt as a lump.
RELATED: It’s All About Awareness and Education — Why I Advocate for Male Breast Cancer
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- U.S. Soldier Deployed To The Middle East Felt Strange Lump While Showering And Thought It Was ‘Irritation’ From His Bulletproof Vest: It Turned Out To Be MALE Breast Cancer
A family history of breast cancer can increase a man’s likelihood of developing the disease. In most cases, male breast cancer presents as a lump in the chest region. Additionally, factors such as the individual’s race may influence the overall outlook or prognosis.
Five types of standard treatment are used to treat breast cancer in men:
- Surgery for breast cancer in men mirrors the procedure in women. A modified radical mastectomy removes the whole breast with cancer. The result may involve removing the nipple, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- Chemotherapy involves cancer-killing drugs to prevent the cancer cells from growing. Chemo drugs are usually taken orally or intravenously.
- Hormone therapy removes hormones or blocks their ability to help cancer cells grow.
- In radiation therapy, high-energy beams such as X-rays are aimed at cancer cells to kill them.
- Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.
Meanwhile, there are several risk factors that can increase a man’s chance of developing the disease, just like in the case of female breast cancer. If you’re a man with any, all or some of the following risk factors, vigilance is key.
Possible Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:
- Age. Breast cancer risk increases with age, and most cancers are found in patients over 50. The average age of a man diagnosed with breast cancer is 72.
- Family history. Men with close blood relatives who have had breast cancer are at higher risk for the disease.
- Genetic mutations. Patients may inherit gene defects that make them more susceptible to breast cancer. Men with a mutation in the BRCA2 gene have a 6 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and men with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 1 percent lifetime risk. These gene mutations are most commonly found in families with strong histories of breast or ovarian cancer, but they have also been found in male breast cancer patients without a family history.
- Klinefelter syndrome. Men with Klinefelter syndrome are born with at least one extra X chromosome which may increase a man’s breast cancer risk by producing high levels of estrogen (a hormone responsible for female sex characteristics) and low levels of androgens (hormones responsible for male sex characteristics). This condition affects about 1 in 1,000 men, and can raise the risk of breast cancer by 20 60 times that of the general population.
- Hormone therapy. Men who have been treated with drugs containing estrogen are at a greater breast cancer risk. These drugs were once used to treat prostate cancer, and they are still used in sex reassignment processes.
- Conditions affecting the testicles. Testicle injuries, swelling or removal surgery can increase a man’s risk for the disease by disrupting normal hormone levels.
- Liver disease. Diseases that impede the liver (like cirrhosis) may raise men’s estrogen production and lower their androgen levels, therefore, increasing breast cancer risk.
- Alcohol. Heavy drinking is known to raise the risk of breast cancer (which may be related to alcohol’s effect on the liver).
- Radiation therapy. Men who have received radiation therapy to their chests (for conditions like lymphoma) have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
- Obesity. Fat cells can transform androgens into estrogens, boosting the possibility of an overweight man developing breast cancer.
If any of the above risk factors applies to you, consult your doctor and feel free to ask questions. While it’s true that men can work to lower their breast cancer risk by exercising and maintaining a healthy bodyweight, the most important element of effective cancer treatment is an early diagnosis.
Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer Can Include:
- A lump developed in the breast (usually painless), or a thickening in the breast tissue
- Nipple pain
- An inverted nipple
- Discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody (this was Mathew Knowles’ first symptom)
- Changes to the color or texture of the nipple and areola
- Changes to the color or texture of skin on the chest
- Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm
If You Feel Something, Say Something Men Ignore Symptoms Too Often
Treatment for male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. A person’s options depend greatly on a variety of factors, including the size of the tumor and how far the cancer cells have spread, but possibilities include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.
There is Nothing to Be Ashamed of with Male Breast Cancer
Marc Futterweit is a two-time breast cancer survivor and he knows first-hand that the shame that comes with a diagnosis of male breast cancer can be quite debilitating. The urge to just ignore the symptoms and tell yourself breast cancer is a woman’s disease may sway you from getting screened. But Marc has become an advocate for the disease, and is now dedicated to halting that way of thinking.
“Men are basically standing in the shadows,” Futterweit says. “They’re ashamed or embarrassed … this is a woman’s disease. [But] why can’t men get breast cancer?”
A lot of people assume men can’t even get breast cancer because they don’t have breasts, but that’s not the case. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2025 and 510 men will die from it.
It’s much less common in men than it is in women (the lifetime risk of a man getting breast cancer is about 1 in 726), but surveillance and screening is still important.
That’s why Futterweit’s philosophy is “if you feel something, say something.”
He detected his own cancer when he felt an odd lump on his chest during a shower. He admits, he was baffled when his doctor suggested he get a mammogram, but in reality, it probably saved his life. “The problem with men is that they wait, and they think things are going to go away,” Futterweit says.
“Once they’re diagnosed, sometimes it’s too late.”
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, whether you’re a man or a woman, here are some questions you can ask your doctor to learn more about it.
- What kind of breast cancer do I have?
- Has the cancer spread to other parts of the body?
- What stage is my cancer in?
- What other tests should I seek to better understand the cancer before deciding on treatment?
- What are your treatment recommendations and their likely side effects?
- What other doctors can give me additional opinions?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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