‘Building awareness, early detection, life changing’

Peggy Miller’s son Bret was diagnosed with breast cancer when he was 24. Peggy and her family now work to build awareness about male breast cancer.

“It took seven years for doctors to diagnose Bret. He found his lump at age 17, and, for years, doctors told us it was calcium, and he was becoming a man!

“They told us from the beginning that he would be treated the same way they do women because that is all they know how to do. Because of his age he was hot-tailed all over the nation to all top doctors in the field because they honestly told us they did not know how to treat a man diagnosed at his age — 24 years old — but found a lump at age 17.

“He promised Dr. Lon McCroskey, his surgeon, that once he was well, he would put a face to breast cancer and build awareness and early detection for our youth and all men. Bret goes into the high schools and colleges and talks about breast cancer and so do other survivors from the www.MaleBreastCancerCoalition.org, of which Bret is the co-founder.

“It has made our family advocates for men and the youth to build awareness and early detection about breast cancer.

“We have 31 stories with 22 more men sending us their journey now willing to share. Because of such a “pink” world, men do not want to share their story, but together with social media, we are helping to change that. Baby steps. We have come a long way since April 28, 2010, when Bret was diagnosed. Next month he will be a 5-year survivor.”

Peggy and her son are working on a documentary about male breast cancer. Check out the trailer here.