WEST PALM BEACH, FL--When Ron Preman is operating the equipment he uses to make sculptures he looks like an ordinary guy. But Ron has a unique story. Several years ago, after his wife's sister developed breast cancer, his wife went to a breast surgeon to learn what she should be looking for. She told Ron that the doctor warned her to look for a hard pea-shaped lump.
Ron Preman, survivor: "I said, You know, I have one of those hard pea shaped lumps."
Ron's internist scheduled him for a mammogram, an ultrasound, and finally a biopsy.
Ron Preman: "And lo and behold, it was stage II breast cancer…I was totally dumb struck. Obviously, it is a womans disease from everyones point of view, from the male point of view…It turns out it was really not a female disease specifically. It was a mans disease as well."
Dr. Geoffrey Zann tells his patients that there are about 2,000 men who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Dr. Geoffrey Zann, gynecologist: It's not as if it doesn't exist. You need to be especially concerned if there is a strong family history. If there is a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer then the males can be affected as well."
Factors that increase a mans risk:
*getting older
*having family member (male or female) with breast cancer, especially with a BRCA2 mutation *having your chest exposed to radiation treatment, usually for cancer such as Hodgkins disease *chronic liver disorders *having a genetic condition such as Klinefelters syndrome
Ron had chemotherapy and a mastectomy.
Ron: "It was difficult ordeal, but here I am!"
