Breast cancer deadly for too many men

BOSTON (WWLP) - Not many men think to get a breast cancer screening, but that’s a mistake that could cost you your life.

The disease, which is normally associated with women, is also a threat for men.

With raising awareness in mind, Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill designating the third week of October as “Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week” in Massachusetts. The purpose is to let men know breast cancer can indeed happen to them.

Mike Selsmar, a father of two sons, is a key supporter of the bill. About a year ago Selsmar found a lump on his chest, but didn’t think to get it checked until about one to two months later. He now has stage 4 breast cancer, and is due for surgery in November.

“We thought that, you know, if you can get the word out and have men cognizant of it and looking at it and doing the right kind of checks, you can discover it earlier and get treated earlier,” Selsmar said.

It is rare for men to get breast cancer compared to women, but when men do get it, they are less likely to survive because most are not diagnosed early.

The entire month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so remember to get checked and encourage others to get checked if you see any suspicious lumps on your chest.