Honoring Men's Health Month
- November marks Men’s Health Month, which aims to spread much-needed awareness about physical and mental health issues which affect men.
- To spotlight this important month, SurvivorNet shares the stories of six male cancer survivors who have used their journeys to become advocates.
- These survivors have helped educate other men about possible cancer symptoms, create support groups, and encourage them not to skip doctor’s visits or screenings.
Mark Borja
When North Carolina-based filmmaker Mark Borja was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October 2017, he initially felt shame and embarrassment about his diagnosis. Testicular cancer is most commonly found in men around the ages of 20 to 45, and is extremely treatable when found in early stages. Borja knew very little about the disease, and in and effort to learn more he tried to find support groups in his area. However, he came up short. He luckily had the support of his friends and family to help him through this journey, but the lack of awareness about testicular cancer made Borja want to help others and do more.
Read MoreMichael Singer
Breast cancer is far too commonly thought of as a cancer that only affects women, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Men can get breast cancer too, and that’s a message breast cancer survivor Michael Singer is determined to share. A common problem is that men will avoid possible cancer symptoms, and as a result the disease can progress and decrease the likelihood of successful treatment. So, Singer has created a unique way of bringing the subject up by talking about motorcycles. Living in the Bronx, Singer uses his hobby as a biker to visit car shows in his neighborhood and set up information tents about male breast cancer.
Related: Breast Cancer Drugs Are Rarely Tested in Male Patients Now The FDA Wants to Fix That
Not only that, but Singer has taken his advocacy to the next level through his work with the National Breast Cancer Coalition and by visiting Congress to speak on the issue. While some men may initially feel shame or weakness when diagnosed with breast cancer, Singer is determined to show that any man can be diagnosed, and that’s why information is power.
Breast cancer survivor Michael Singer is determined to educate fellow men
Oswald Peterson
For Oswald Peterson, he wasn’t sure where to turn to when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He had watched his mother lose her battle with ovarian cancer in 2016, and on New Years Day in 2017 he started experiencing concerning symptoms such as having trouble breathing. He visited his doctor, where he was initially told it was pneumonia. However, the symptoms continued to get worse to the point where Peterson could barely breathe at all. Once visiting the doctor again, he was told he had stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. Due to the disease progressing, Peterson couldn’t turn to standard treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, but thankfully the Food and Drug Administration had just approved the checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as a first treatment for lung cancer that has spread into the body.
This unique treatment option ended up being a life-saving resource for Peterson, and it taught him how powerful being your own advocate and knowing about treatment options can be. When it comes to finding the best personal treatment plan, there is no harm in asking for second opinions or getting a full breakdown of each option.
Stage 4 Lung Cancer Survivor Oswald Peterson says immunotherapy gave him a new chance at life
Ed Yakacki
Ed Yakacki is a three-time cancer survivor, having battled stage 4 colorectal cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, and stage 2 Ewing’s Sarcoma. When he was just 28-year-old, he started experiencing symptoms including trouble going to the bathroom and severe pain. He initially tried brushing off the symptoms, but as they got worse he eventually decided to visit the doctor. After going through an ultrasound and biopsy, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer, and immediately started treatment. Once receiving the diagnosis, Yakacki experienced a whirlwind of emotions including anger and shame and tried to use alcohol to cope. “I was really struggling,” Yakacki told SurvivorNet. “I was in a dark place.”
Related: "You Shouldn't Die From Embarrassment": Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
However, Yakacki found a way to get himself out of that dark place by using his experience and becoming an advocate for others. After coming to terms with his diagnosis, it allowed him to stop dwelling on the negative and instead turn to those going through a similar experience. He and his friends and family participated in a Philadelphia walk to raise money and awareness surrounding colon cancer, and it made him realize he wasn’t alone in his journey.
Three-time cancer survivor Ed Yakacki found comfort in his diagnosis by becoming an advocate
Marc Futterweit
When it comes to preventing breast cancer, screening methods are critical. However, seeing as it’s too often been thought of as a “women’s disease,” men don’t think to go through annual screenings in order to catch a possible diagnosis early. This is something that two-time breast cancer survivor Marc Futterweit wants to change. Through his experiences, he tries to stress the importance of men staying vigilant about possible symptoms, and getting screened regularly.
Related: There's Not Much Out There About Male Breast Cancer Let's Change That
Futterweit spends his time bringing awareness to male breast cancer, and educating men about early symptoms, screening methods, and breaking down the facts. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,550 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the United States, and 480 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 833), but surveillance and screening is still important. That’s why Futterweit’s life motto is: if you feel something, say something.
Two-time breast cancer survivor Marc Futterweit pushes for men to stay vigilant about symptoms
Todd Rosenbluth
It can be a hassle going to regular doctor visits, but skipping these checkups can lead to serious health issues going unnoticed. Todd Rosenbluth hated going to the doctor, and often convinced himself he didn’t need to get checked out regularly because of his healthy lifestyle. However, his wife pushed him to start going to the doctor more regularly, and it ended up saving his life.
Related: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was Diagnosed With Testicular Cancer
During a routine checkup, Rosenbluth was diagnosed with early-stage testicular cancer. This diagnosis taught him an important lesson: always prioritize your health and don’t make excuses not to visit the doctor. You never know when one checkup may be the one to save your life.
Testicular cancer survivor Todd Rosenbluth urges men to visit their doctor regularly
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