October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and although only a small percentage of men are diagnosed with the disease, education remains key. WNYC’s Community Partnerships Desk has been talking with people from our region to learn of their experiences and insights about breast cancer. Michael Singer is a Bronx native, who now lives in Orange County. He’s a breast cancer survivor and advocate for men with breast cancer.
The transcript of Michael Singer’s story has been lightly edited for clarity
My name is Michael Singer. I’m born and bred in the Bronx, New York, and I currently reside in Orange County, New York, in a hamlet called Cuddebackville. I was diagnosed with male breast cancer in December of 2010. I was a 50-year-old male. I walked into my doctor’s office as what I thought was a healthy male and walked out as a breast cancer patient.
Many things are running through your head. Most of all, I was just embarrassed because I’d never heard of men getting breast cancer. I thought I was a freak. It’s a funny thing, because when people hear you have cancer, they want to know what kind of cancer you have. And I have to be honest, I just couldn’t say that I had breast cancer. I said I had chest cancer. And most people don’t know how to associate chest cancer. I kind of like dodged a bullet. And I would walk away from there. You know, chest cancer could be so many other things, and not breast cancer.
I finally found out I wasn’t alone when I was watching a TV show called “The Katie Couric Show.” And on that show, they had several other male breast cancer survivors and thrivers. And at that point, it was like an epiphany. My head exploded. I started running around the living room. I’m not alone. There were other men out there. Why am I so embarrassed? I need to get out there and talk about male breast cancer.
I’ve joined so many different cancer organizations nationally. They’ve all given me a platform to talk about male breast cancer and raise awareness….
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