"New AMA Policy on Male Breast Cancer Applauded"(June 23, 2009, Sebastian, Florida)
The John W. Nick Foundation, which has been working to raise awareness for Male Breast Cancer for over 15 years, applauds the American Medical Association (AMA) for action it took at the organization's recent annual meeting in Chicago. The AMA has issued a new policy statement to recognize breast cancer as a condition that affects men as well as women. In issuing this statement the AMA went on record to support the expansion of education and awareness efforts about the risks, signs and symptoms of male breast cancer.
"I can't tell you how important this new AMA policy is," said Nancy Nick, founder and President of the Nick Foundation, the non-profit named after her father. For Ms. Nick, the call for heightened awareness of Male Breast Cancer has been a passionate message that she has carried across the country for years, often only to find a lack of interest, both in the medical community and among the general public. "I lost my father to male breast cancer because there wasn't sufficient awareness about how this disease impacts men," explained Ms. Nick. Tragically, ignorance of the disease among men, and the higher mortality rate for men as compared to women, run parallel to one another. "There is a tremendous need to increase male breast cancer awareness efforts across the country," Ms. Nick said, "and the new AMA policy statement only underscores the urgency of that message."
The Nick Foundation is uniquely positioned to partner with medical providers, clinics, patients and breast cancer support groups to provide the kind of education and awareness efforts called for by the AMA. Nancy Nick confirms that the John W. Nick Foundation is the only non-profit that is exclusively devoted to providing support and resources on male breast cancer on a national basis. "This has been our mission and work for over 15 years," Ms. Nick said. "We have collected the data and have worked tirelessly to educate doctors and men of all ages. The AMA is correct -- we at the Nick Foundation have been saying it for years: Raising awareness among men can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, and when that happens, we can save lives."
The events that surrounded the late breast cancer diagnosis of Nancy Nick's father, even after his expression of concern to three different physicians, was the catalyst for the Nick Foundation. Ms. Nick started her personal campaign to educate people and the medical community about the disease that killed her father. Her crusade began in 1994 with a promise to her father that the world would know about male breast cancer. "I made a promise to my dad," Ms. Nick said, "that men would know that they are not alone and that male breast cancer DOES happen." Over the years the Nick Foundation has been a welcomed resource for thousands of men who have been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. Ms. Nick believes that the Nick Foundation has acquired an invaluable and unmatched pool of knowledge on the topic of male breast cancer. "Whether it's support for recently diagnosed men, or information to help medical providers raise awareness," Ms. Nick said, "the Nick Foundation has what no other organization has -- and that's our incredible network of guys who have fought this disease."
To learn more about the John W. Nick Foundation and its long-standing work to raise awareness of male breast cancer, please contact:
Here are some men in our lives who have dealt with male breast cancer. Read their stories.
John W. Nick: At the age of 58 (in June 1991), John died of breast cancer. Six years before his death, he expressed concern for a problem on his right breast to a physician who told him not to worry about it. Two years later, another doctor told John not to worry, that it was "nothing." John never knew about male breast cancer, so he listened to his doctors and DID NOTHING. (Read John's Story)
Will Gallagher: On a beautiful Colorado morning I left for West Star Aviation, I hadn't slept very well the night before due to a dull pain on my right side. The pain was coming from the lump (cyst as 3 doctors had called it before. But I was in good spirits and I loved my new job so I was looking forward to my day. This starts my journey into male breast cancer. (Will's Story)
Robert Kaitz: It was funny the way we caught my breast cancer. I had a sore throat, so I went to the doctor. I had a list, you know, "By the way, I also have acid reflux..." and he gave me a fistful of prescriptions. Then I said, "Oh, yeah, I forgot, I have this lump."(Read more of Robert's story)
Also from Robert:"If I can reach one guy and have him get an early diagnosis, then I am a happy guy."
Mike Partain: I am 39 years old. I was diagnosed with male breast cancer on the same day as my eighteenth wedding anniversary. My diagnosis left me confused and troubled. I was at a loss to explain where or how I developed the disease. I do not drink nor do I smoke. Cancer of any kind is rare in my family. (Mike's Story)
Edward J. Wilson(with Nancy Nick at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium). MBC is not as rare as one would think. I have been fortunate and will attest that faith, family, and friends have been the cornerstone to my recovery. This is my case. Do not let it be yours. Early detection is the key! (E.J.'s Story)
Scott Wright:Thanks for the call doc. Sorry, didn't quite catch that. I've got what? Breast cancer? What?! Did you say BREAST cancer? Are you KIDDING me? So yeah, that's the deal. December 8, 2008 I'm minding my own lawyerly business on a late Monday morning, and I get the call with the news. (Scott's Story)
Current Events:
Scott Wright participated in the Susan G. Komen Twin Cities Race for the
Scott says: "We had a fantastic turnout, and there was a non-stop flow of questions, interest and support at our Blue Team/John W. Nick Foundation booth at the Komen Health Expo. Thanks everyone who participated and donated, time, money, supplies and support. We made many connections with other breast cancer organizations and interested individuals."
Research shows that approximately 5-10 percent of all breast cancer is hereditary. Scientists have discovered the BRCA1 and BRCA2 are major genes related to hereditary breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health, “Men with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene have an increased risk of breast and possibly prostate cancer. Alterations in the BRCA2 gene have also been associated with an increased risk of lymphoma, melanoma, and cancer of the pancreas, gallbladder, bile duct, and stomach in some men and women. Women also have the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Men experiencing other cancers tend to be higher probability candidates for male breast cancer.
We believe that we can draw a parallel to the incidence and increases in female breast cancer that mirrors the rise in male breast cancer and related diseases.
Additionally, studies lead to the following:
As a group, Ashkenazi (central or eastern Europe) Jewish men tend to exhibit a high incidence of hereditary breast cancer, as well as related cancerous diseases.
BRCA2 mutations are found in seven percent of men with breast cancer.
Male breast cancers have high rates of hormone-receptor expression. Approximately 90 percent of male breast cancers express the estrogen receptor, and 81 percent express the progesterone receptor.
Men tend to be diagnosed at an older age (67 years) than women (62 years). Clinically, men are more likely to present with disease in auxiliary lymph nodes, at a more advanced stage of disease and with estrogen and progesterone receptor positive tumor. The two most common types of breast cancer in men were invasive ductal or unclassified carcinomas (93.4 percent) and papillary carcinomas (2.6 percent).
The impact of breast cancer in males leads the victims to great degrees of negative psychological impact — more so than the negative impact exhibited by females diagnosed with the disease. Men feel alone, and have a difficult time finding information on male breast cancer or other men who have contracted the disease.
The time has certainly come for the public and the medical communities, at large, to understand the existence of, and the severity of, male breast cancer as an insidious disease that causes havoc on families, communities as well as upon the victims themselves.
The John W. Nick Foundation a 501(C)3 non-profit organization (IRS Tax Exempt #65-0615995)
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