With more than 2,000 men diagnosed with breast cancer annually, Michael Singer, 56, a breast cancer survivor, is now engaged in efforts to draw attention to this silent killer. While Singer noticed a lump on his chest, he delayed attending to it unaware that men could be prone to the condition, which is primarily associated with women.
Following a biopsy, Singer told PEOPLE that he was in shock when his doctor told him he had stage 2 breast cancer. "I thought, 'No way - men don't get breast cancer,'" Singer said.
The retired federal government facilities manager, who resides in New York, also revealed he lost his sister to breast cancer.
Singer revealed that he was embarrassed to discuss his diagnosis with anyone except his relatives. However, a year and half following his successful mastectomy, he discovered a television program which featured male breast cancer survivors.
Through the program he got in touch with Bret Miller who had set up a non-profit organization called 'Male Breast Cancer Coalition' dedicated to highlighting the issue. Singer said since then he became an activist and hopes to save the lives of men who may be affected but are unaware. The activist said he has taken his message of awareness to high schools, motorcycle rallies, and civil society meetings.
According to the Miami Herald, while more than 90 percent of cases of breast cancer involve women, more than 2000 male adults in the United States contract the condition annually. However, since awareness about the condition is low, men tend to seek medical attention rather late.
"For men, most of these cases are invasive cancers," Dr. Robert DerHagopian of The Breast Center at Miami Cancer Institute said.
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 400 men will die from breast cancer in 2016 alone. Dr. DerHagopian said that in women, the rate of pre-invasive breast cancer cases is less among those who tend to do annual mammograms and detect cases early.
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