By Oliver Bogler
August 2015
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2012 and am blogging about the latest research on this disease and my personal journey at malebreastcancerblog.org and Tweet @obogler. I am a cancer biologist and work at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the leading cancer centers in the world.
I completed my active treatment – 6 months of chemo, surgery and then radiation – mid-2013, and have been taking Tamoxifen since then. I have also participated in several trials – more information on these on my blog.
My wife, Irene Newsham, Ph.D., is also a cancer biologist, and she preceded me with breast cancer by five years. We had very similar diagnoses, and nearly identical treatment plans – and are both doing well. These experiences have opened up an entirely new view for us on MD Anderson, which we knew primarily from the research, education and now administrative side. They tell you when you get married that you should share everything in life – while we may be overdoing it a bit, this shared experience has made it easier for each of us to face the challenges of living with cancer.
Wearing both an employee badge and a patient bracelet has given me multiple perspectives as I strive every day to make a difference in the battle against cancer. I am now advocating for more research on male breast cancer, serving as a reviewer on grants for breast cancer from the patient perspective and also as a volunteer at MD Anderson to support men newly facing this diagnosis.
Thanks again Oliver for all that you have done to promote awareness and help share the story.
Read your story in the NYTimes BC article last year. Amazing coincidence having the two of you diagnosed. Good luck for the future.
I’m a guy with BC and now eight months on Tamoxifen. Could be I have a defective BRCA gene, since my mum died young of the same disease.
Hi Rod, My name is Cheri and I am one of the founders of the Male Breast Cancer Coalition. We are a national non-profit organization whose mission is to bring male BC survivors together from around the world to share their journey, connect with fellow survivors and those fighting the battle. We are spreading awareness and educating the world on the existence of breast cancer in men. We are here for you and would love to help you though this.