loading
male breast cancer spotlight

Author: Pam Stephan, About.com Guide to Breast Cancer

What is male breast cancer?

Mike Partain, male breast cancer survivor and former resident of Camp Lejeune, is back in the news again.

Tune in to CNN on Thursday and Friday night (September 24th and 25th) at 8 p.m. EST. That’s when you can see a two-part special about the 22 men who developed male breast cancer – most likely as a result of having lived at and consumed water from the base’s supply from 1957 to 1987.

Now I would think that the Marines would protect their own water supply, wouldn’t you? But during the time in question, dry cleaning chemicals were dumped into at least two water distribution systems at Camp Lejeune. Many Marines, Sailors, their families and civilian employees have been affected by the contamination.

We’re talking about drinking water that contained Tetrachloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, Vinyl Chloride, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene. I wonder how anybody could stand to drink it, but perhaps it was a matter of people becoming accustomed to it over time.

Trichloroethylene is used to degrease metal parts – my husband used to use it to clean broken tape recorders and VCRs when he worked in a repair shop. Benzene is used for lots of industrial processes, including petrochemical production. Xylene is a cleaning solvent – I used it to clean photostencils off of silk screens in college art classes. Toluene is used to make benzene and urethane – stuff that is used in paint, rubber, insulation, and golf balls. These things are commonly used in dry cleaning, and they do not belong in anyone’s drinking water!

The Marine Corps still hasn’t notified everyone who drank that water at Camp Lejeune – but the people who developed many kinds of cancer – including male breast cancer – as well as birth defects and miscarriages need to know, and to have their rights protected. These Marines are the folks that go out into danger to protect and defend this country – they should also be protected and treated well, and given the whole truth about their health risks.

Men have only a small amount of breast tissue, especially compared to women, so a man’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is quite rare. In fact, only about 1 % of all breast cancer cases are diagnosed in men. When men are diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s usually later in life, not when they are just 39 – like Mike Partain – and not in clumps of 22, as at Camp Lejeune. We know that cancer gets started as the result of mutated DNA, but we don’t always know what breaks a person’s DNA, and why it doesn’t repair itself. Our modern diet, lifestyle, and environment seems to play a part in contributing to a rise in cancers of all types.

But what if all the people that were exposed to the water at Camp Lejeune could be identified, informed, and surveyed – so the full extent of the effects of this health disaster could be properly studied? Would it lead to a new discovery about the development of cancer?

Mike Partain learned of the water contamination almost by accident, after his diagnosis. Turns out the Marine Corps had known about these chemicals in the base water supply since 1980. Mike parents were consuming the contaminated water in 1967, when they were expecting him. He was a small baby, born with a persistent skin rash, and developed other health problems as he grew up. His parents, along with many other base residents, have developed more than the average number of health problems. Camp LeJeune’s water supply was contaminated for 30 years.

This preventable water problem and the resulting health disaster may have affected an estimated 800,000 to 1 million former Marines and their families. It takes my breath away!

Mike Partain, male breast cancer survivor and former resident of Camp Lejeune, is back in the news again.

Sign Up for Our Monthly Newsletter

Online Form – Newsletter Signup

Continue Reading

male breast cancer spotlight
CNN Airs News Story on Male Breast Cancer at Camp Lejeune
Read More

 

how healthcare reform affects breast reconstruction
Breast Cancer Reconstruction & Health Care Reform – What It Means For You

Breast Cancer Reconstruction & Health Care Reform – What It Means For You July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Author: Dr. Sharon Lacey What does health care reform mean for patients with breast cancer and how will it affect you? Well, it could mean… Even though you or your loved one could benefit […]

Read More

 

Breast Reconstruction – Breast Cancer Patients Denied Choice After Mastectomy

Breast Reconstruction – Breast Cancer Patients Denied Choice After Mastectomy July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Author: Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo Are there breast reconstruction options other than implants?  Despite the increase of breast reconstruction procedures performed after mastectomy in 2008, nearly 70 percent of women who are eligible for the procedure are not […]

Read More

 

Mammograms and MRI after Breast Reconstruction – Are They Needed?

Mammograms and MRI after Breast Reconstruction – Are They Needed? July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Author: Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo “Do I still need to have mammograms after my breast reconstruction?” I’m asked this question quite often. Surprisingly, there is no evidence-based consensus on this among breast cancer physicians. Recommendations range from “no need […]

Read More

 

Is there a Place For Breast Reconstruction in Metastatic Breast Cancer?

Is there a Place For Breast Reconstruction in Metastatic Breast Cancer? July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Author: Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo Can I still have Breast Reconstruction if I have Metastatic Breast Cancer? Traditional medical opinion states that patients with metastatic breast cancer are not candidates for breast reconstruction. Once metastases are diagnosed […]

Read More

 

radiation affecting breast reconstruction results
Impact of Radiation on Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Impact of Radiation on Breast Reconstruction Surgery July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Author: Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo Can radiation therapy impact breast reconstruction results?  Radiation therapy is often recommended as part of breast cancer treatment. Patients undergoing lumpectomy receive radiation routinely once they’ve healed from surgery. Some mastectomy patients also need radiation after […]

Read More

 

TUG Flap Restores Breast After Mastectomy With Thigh Lift Bonus

TUG Flap Restores Breast After Mastectomy With Thigh Lift Bonus July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin What is TUG flap breast reconstruction?  San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 – Plastic, Reconstructive & Microsurgical Associates (PRMA) of South Texas, a leading breast reconstruction surgery practice in San Antonio, is now offering women the […]

Read More

 

Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy - Breast Reconstruction Specialist Radio Interview PRMA Plastic Surgery
Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy – Breast Reconstruction Specialist Radio Interview

Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy – Breast Reconstruction Specialist Radio Interview July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin What are the cutting edge breast reconstruction options currently available? It was an absolute pleasure to talk to DeLeon and Travis on “DeLeon Dialogue” last night. Breast cancer survivor DeLeon and cervical cancer survivor Travis talk frankly with […]

Read More

 

When Should You Consider Prophylactic Mastectomy of The Non-Cancer Breast PRMA Plastic Surgery
When Should You Consider Prophylactic Mastectomy of The Non-Cancer Breast?

When Should You Consider Prophylactic Mastectomy of The Non-Cancer Breast? July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin When Should You Consider Prophylactic Mastectomy of The Non-Cancer Breast? Having breast cancer in one breast increases a woman’s chances of getting breast cancer in the second breast at some point. Unless the patient is “high risk” […]

Read More

 

Leslie Mouton’s Breast Reconstruction Diary

Leslie Mouton’s Breast Reconstruction Diary July 07, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin What’s it like to have breast reconstruction?  PRMA Plastic Surgery would like to thank Mrs. Leslie Mouton, local news anchor for KSAT12 News in San Antonio, for documenting her experiences with breast cancer reconstruction. We hope that patients are able to gain […]

Read More

 

post-img
Prev post

Breast Cancer Reconstruction & Health Care Reform - What It Means For You

Next post

Can Breast Cancer Be Detected Early?

post-img

1 Comment

  1. Ernest Wells

    Please keep fighting i am a male marine that served at camp lejeun with male breast cancer