At this point ladies, I want to talk to you and only you. Most people do not realize men can and do have breast cancer. Yes, both men and women are ignorant of this deadly fact. Only one in every hundred reported breast cancers is male.

Let's take a closer look at this subject. Ladies, your breast and a man's are basically the same in structure. You just have a lot more mammary glands than men do. If what I have just said is true, then it would stand to reason that 50 in every 100 reported breast cancers should be male. There are several reasons this is not happening and the male numbers are so low.

Doctors do not check for male breast cancer, even when performing extensive medical examinations. Doctors do not ask the male patient to perform self-checks for breast cancer. (I don't think they are ignorant of the fact but just are not making optimum use of the physical). Another major reason male breast cancer goes undetected, is men will not check themselves for a condition they consider to be "a female thing."

To my knowledge, all breast cancer literature, to date, is female oriented. When I was diagnosed, I was given female literature to read and try to understand.

Are you beginning to see where I am going with this? Ladies, you are going to have to be the one to check your husband or any male you care about. Remember, a man will not do it. Even once a month in the privacy of a shower, they will not do it. You will HAVE to do it. That unfortunately, is the unvarnished truth.

The male breast is ordinarily thin in structure; therefore, it will be easy for you to feel a lump or a knot when being close to him. You will also be looking for any type of discharge from his nipple and especially take note if his nipple is beginning to invert or change shape or color. In other words, if his nipples don't look pretty much the same, there is something wrong and you need to tell him immediately. By doing so, you could be instrumental in possibly saving his life.

The years have elapsed, the world has kept turning and life is good again. The hurt, pain and suffering are, for the most part, over and life forges ahead.

For me it has been over five years now and statistically speaking that is an indicator the cancer should not return. I have a new life filled to the brim with new friends, new places, good times and I am always looking for a new highway to travel or a new pasture to wander through. Maybe one day I will be in your pasture.

Author's footnote: I believe this article or one similar to it should be in pamphlet form, located in every doctor's office in the United States. It should be given to women and not men. Most men will NOT take the time to read it nor will they take it seriously. No man should ever die of ignorance, but today that is happening over and over. A man dies of stomach, liver, prostate or some other cancer and it will never be known if it actually started in his breast. It is time to stop this travesty by admitting it happens and educating our medical community to begin checking for it on a routine basis. Then teach people the fact that every part of the human body is susceptible to cancer.

Postscript to men: You are your own first line of defense; don't leave this responsibility up to someone else. If you have read this you are now informed and responsible. Take this seriously, as with all cancer, early detection is the key.