Today’s Health Activist Writer’s Challenge inspired post is about men with breast cancer. Scorchy, of The Sarcastic Boob posted a link to her new FaceBook page to Oliver Bogle’s blog, Entering a World of Pink. Dr. Bogle was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall. Coincidentally, he is a cancer researcher at the very prestigious Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. His wife is also a cancer researcher there and is a 5 year-old breast cancer survivor.
Thanks to Scorchy for sharing the link to the blog. It is excellent not just because it deals with male breast cancer, which deserves a lot more attention than it gets. It is very well written and since Dr. Bogle has a Ph.D. and experience as a lab scientist, his explanations of topics such as how Taxol works at the molecular level will blow you away. I also suspect he has a teaching background because by the way he writes because his explanations are excellent. I feel like I took a short continuing education class.
There are also less technical topics that would be helpful to many breast cancer patients, especially for newly diagnosed patients. For example, the post on the multidisciplinary approach to cancer assessment and treatment is really good. I know when I had my first surgical consultation one day after my breast cancer diagnosis and my dear friend, Nancy, asked Dr. Beatty about whether I should set up appointments with a “medical oncologist” and a “radiation oncologist”, my first thought was, “I thought all of these doctors were medical oncologists.”
So check out Dr. Bogle’s blog. It’s really good. I read the entire blog this afternoon. And yes, easy for me to do because I am at home recovering from surgery. If you would like to have an overview of male breast cancer, you might listen to the 20 minute podcast made by Dr. Bogle and his medical oncologist, Sharon Giordano, M.D. Click here.
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for the link and mention – really appreciate it, as well as the many positive comments you made on my blog today. It’s always good to connect with a fellow survivor treading a similar road, and I love the humor and insight you bring to how you share your experience.
Oliver
Thank you, Oliver. I look forward to following your blog. I am planning on writing a post soon about how a former academic researcher in evidence-based treatments came to my decision to use an integrative approach to my treatment. Although many factors informed my decision-making, a significant influence was the work of the late David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D. I understand that the Anderson Center started a collaboration with Dr. Servan-Schreiber before his death to set up a research project evaluating an integrative model of oncology treatment. Based on his website, it looks like the project may still be in early development. In any case, as a cancer scientist and patient, I would be interested in your thinking on this issue. Stay tuned…
Looks like some interesting reading ahead.. Thanks
It is interesting reading. I have encountered so many wonderful teachers/blog writers including you.
Thanks for introducing us to another informative blog with a very catchy title! I love Oliver’s initiative in organizing a photo shoot for male survivors of breast cancer! I also liked his post on the beneficial outcome of the continued use of tamoxifen hopefully beyond 5 years and will cross my fingers for his wife!
You’re welcome, Karen. I was also particularly interested in learning that an even higher proportion of male breast cancer is estrogen and progesterone responsive than in female breast cancer.
This is so interesting, completely out of reach for my brain. Still, I enjoy reading it and do understand bits and pieces. It reminds me of conversations I used to hear in the kitchen between you and Meagan. I understood very little so decided to go back to school. Maybe I should return to academics!
Mom, if you understand bits and pieces then it is not completely out of reach for your brain. Academia would be lucky to have you back!
I feel like a schmuck every time I hear about men’s breast cancer, and I’m surprised anew. I know it happens, but it’s shameful how easily people forget.
I tend to forget about it as well. I am trying to be more mindful.
Reblogged this on Entering a World of Pink and commented:
One of the great things about my cancer journey has been making connections with others on the same road. I have really enjoyed my interactions on the #bcsm chats on Twitter that are Monday nights at 8pm central time (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23bcsm) which is run by the great trio Jody Schoger, Alicia Staley and Dr. Deanna Attai. Now I am thrilled that Elizabeth MacKenzie of the My Eyes Are Up Here blog has been kind enough to mention my blog on hers. As a guy in the breast cancer world, these welcomes and connections are very much appreciated. Elizabeth has many readers and several of them have also commented on her post. I look forward to reading about their experiences and learning from them.
Thanks for writing such a great blog, Oliver as well as reminding me that breast cancer is not a woman’s disease.