On October 15th, 2009, Cathy Reid - Executive Director of Out of the Shadow of Pink,  who is currently working alongside the Brandon Greening Foundation requested my assistance to join them in their mission to establish Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week (see Proclamation) as the 3rd week in October.  Currently we are gathering the names of individuals who would support this concept.  Please support our mission by adding your name to the sign up sheet. 

        Cathy Reid lost her husband Joe at the age of 47 to MBC in September 2008.

        Brandon Greening is 37 years old and currently battling stage IV MBC.

        Herb Wagner is currently a 4.5 year MBC survivor.

        On December 1^st 2009, I gave the following presentation in Brooksville Florida and we have received overwhelming support.  After my presentation to the Hernando County Legislative Delegation, the next day we received support from the Hernando County Commissioner, David Russell and more recently received support from Florida Senator Robert Schenck who will introduce this resolution to the Florida House of Representatives next session.  As well, Florida Congress woman Ginny Brown-Waite will be supporting and presenting a similar resolution to the United States House of Representatives (Federal) next session.

                                            Hernando County Legislative Delegation Presentation

        My name is Herb Wagner and I am the founder and President of “A Man’s Pink”.  I am also a 4.5 year male breast cancer (MBC) survivor.  While very rare, approximately 1% of all breast cancer is diagnosed in men.  In other words, approximately 2000 men in the US and about 200 men in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone.  As a result, it is estimated that this year, 450 men in the US and around 45 men in Canada will die from this disease.  When the same type and grade of tumor is diagnosed at the same stage in either men or women, the prognosis and treatment options are very similar.  However, the overall prognosis for men is not as good as for women because more often than not, MBC is diagnosed at a later, more advanced stage.  This is most often due to the fact that many men are unaware that this is a disease that can also affect them.  As well, men in general, are reluctant to seek medical advice, especially regarding a breast issue.  Consequently my mission has become to increase MBC awareness.