Meet a breast cancer survivor named Harvey - Male breast cancer- no way?, impossible? - not

Dingman — Don’t say impossible to Harvey Reisberg. He knows. He’s been through it. He is a breast cancer survivor. Just looking at this burly guy, a Korean War Vet, a knife aficionado with an expert knowledge of fighting knives, a writer for Knife World Magazine, you cannot believe that he is walking around proudly wearing his pink breast cancer survivor pin- and with a smile. Harvey was recently honored by Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Gallery of Hope. Ms. Leigh Ann Wiedlich, Community Relations Specialist of Blue Cross, had a display of the Gallery of Hope at the Dingman’s Branch of the Pike County Public Library honoring ten breast cancer survivors in our area for their courage, their hope, and their inspiration to others. Of course, Harvey was the only male. When Harvey first discovered a lump in his breast, through self examination in the shower, he went to his family doctor. The doctor said, “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” But Harvey did worry about it, and so did his wife Shelly. They investigated further and found out that male breast cancer is so rare, there are very few statistics on it. The American Cancer Society says that less than 1% of all breast cancer cases occur in men as opposed to one out of eight women. In 2008, there will be an estimated 1,990 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in men in the U.S. An estimated 450 men will die of Breast Cancer this year. There are many men who don’t even know they have it. Male Breast Cancer awareness is in its infancy. Harvey finally found an Oncologist at Pocono Medical Center who had had experience with four male breast cancer cases. Harvey had to have a mammogram and an ultra sound. They excised a lump in his breast and it was cancerous. They told him that men need to have radical mastectomies more often then women since women’s breasts have more mass and the cancer travels more slowly. They proceeded to remove Harvey’s whole breast. They pulled his skin very taut across his chest and it hurts when he lifts his arm. Harvey declined radiation and is taking Femara orally. One of the problems is that most of the cancer research and treatment has been done on women. Harvey is wondering what effect these treatments will have on him. He is already having hot flashes. In addition to the cancer, this journey has taught Harvey something about the discrimination towards male breast cancer survivors- the amazement, the disbelief, the embarrassment of having to sit with a waiting room full of women to get a mammogram, and the mere fact that very little is still known about this disease in men . But Harvey Resiberg is a breast cancer survivor and proud of it. He is on a mission to help other men and raise awareness of male breast cancer. He says, “As long as I can save one other guy, I can be happy.” Harvey would be happy to talk to groups about this, as well. He feels it should be talked about and the more it is, the more people will understand it. Harvey is the face of hope. He is there to help. Harvey Reisberg can be reached at rem44402@ptd.net.