Dear Honorable ___________________,

Breast Cancer Awareness in Men

On July 29, 2010, Florida Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite introduced House Resolution 1575 to establish the third week of October as “Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week”. We are asking you to give your support by co-sponsoring this bill which will afford men diagnosed with breast cancer the same survival rate as for women diagnosed with breast cancer (currently 76% for men compared to 87% for women). As you are aware, without co-sponsors, HR 1575 will not be brought to the floor for consideration and this is a matter of life and death for many men. We appreciate your support.

This bill is the culmination of the efforts of Out of the Shadow of Pink, A Man’s Pink, The Brandon Greening Foundation for Breast Cancer in Men and the Bret Miller 1T Check Them Foundation who joined forces to establish this vital Awareness Week.

In 2005 Joe Reid was diagnosed with male breast cancer. Joe had noticed the lump a few months prior to his diagnosis but, unaware that men could develop the disease, mistakenly assumed it was a weight lifting injury. By the time he sought medical advice he was already stage IV with metastases to his bones and lungs. In 2008 the cancer spread to his brain and spinal cord and he succumbed to the disease in September 2008.

Herb Wagner of A Man’s Pink is a 67 year old, five and a half year survivor of male breast cancer who works tirelessly to promote awareness and early detection of the disease in men.

Brandon Greening first noticed his bump in September 2007. Again, unaware that men could develop the disease he did not seek medical advice until the bump became painful. Brandon is currently battling stage IV breast cancer with metastases to his bones, liver and most recently his brain.

Bret Miller is a 24 year old currently undergoing chemotherapy for male breast cancer. He originally noticed his lump at age 17 but was told by doctors it was calcium and he was becoming a man.

Too many people are unaware that men can develop breast cancer. We encourage you to support this legislation to increase awareness that breast cancer is also a man’s disease.

It is a matter of life or death for many men.

Together we will make a difference!

Sincerely