Yes, thats it. Breast cancer is unfortunatly a very real thing, and not just for woman and old men with man boobs. True story (my own). After having been treated for the 11 months or so for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and having the cancer go into remission I figured I was on my way back to kicking ass and taking names. About a month ago I was taking a shower and noticed a strange, rather large bump under my right nipple (the one who died and went to medical waste heaven Friday). Discovering the bumb, I did what any self respecting man would do, I ignored it and hoped it would go away. When after 5 or 6 weeks it still had not gone away I happen to mention it to my Cousin who is a Physicians Assistant. She about shit a brick and set me up to have a mamogram. The mamogram showed something was there, but since I'm a skinny guy (5-8 and about 140lbs), the mamogram was something of a midevil torture device for me and they could not get a great view, although they could tell something was there. Off to the ultrasound I went. That showed that there was definatly something there, it was solid and had its own blood flow. A biopsy followed, and I should say right here that I never pierced anything (esp my nipples) even when it was the cool thing to do, and my take on that was reaffirmed with the biopsy. It came back about 6 days later as Breast Cancer not related in any way to the NHL. So friday I was in DSM and had a radical massectomy on all breast tissue and the lymph nodes under my armpits. That has about a 90% chance of being successful since we caught it early, but to be on the safeside I'm also going to do a few rounds of Chemo. So here is the public service message again. Feel yourself up, even if your young and male. Most men who get breast cancer are over 70 years old, but on occassion a younger man (I'm 31) can also get it. You will lose a nipple and your boobs if they discover cancer, but I'd rather loose the boobs I was never very attatched to anyway than my life. (The nipple is another matter entirely, it looks f'n weird and I'm a bit bent over losing it) Anyway I had the surgery Friday and they let me come home late Friday night. I'm more than a little sore, but its much better than it was Saturday. Two other notes, I think I must have been a terrible person in a former life to get all this bad health I have had the last few years. Secondly, Im going to start playing the lotto, because the luck has to even out someplace.
Agreed; thanks for sharing. In general, most killer health conditions have ways to reduce their occurence or treat them. Eating lots of fruit/veggies/nuts/fish and exercising are part. This is the Number of deaths for leading causes of death + sites/suggestions for reducing their likelihood Heart disease: 652,486 Prevention: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease-prevention/WO00041 Cancer: 553,888 http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/CA/00024.html Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 150,074 http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/preventing_stroke.htm Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 121,987 http://www.healthinparliament.org.uk/lungd/PREVENTING RESPIRATORY DISEASE August 2006.pdf Accidents (unintentional injuries): 112,012 [search 'preventing accidents/accidental deaths] but cars are a big part of that - buckle up, slow down, don't drive distracted/sleepy and be alert, don't drive an unsafe car will help much Diabetes: 73,138 http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-prevention/how-to-prevent-diabetes.jsp Alzheimer's disease: 65,965 The easiest way may be just adding turmeric to your food daily. But also, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1147142,00.html Influenza/Pneumonia: 59,664 Flu vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 42,480 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-nephrosis.htm Septicemia: 33,373 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001355.htm
so its not just us fat guys that need to be concerned?! man, brandon, you have been thru alot! best wishes, surf