Charleston, USA
— George Manahan didn't think much about breast
cancer until his brother died from the disease.
"It was one of those
shocking situations," Manahan said. "There was no cancer
in the family, and none of us were really
smokers."
The cancer started as a
small spot in David Manahan's left breast. At first, the
tumor responded to treatment, recalled his younger
brother, who is head of the Manahan Group public
relations firm in Charleston.
Then the cancer came back
with a vengeance. David Manahan died in January 2004. He
was 52 years old.
"There's not a day that I
don't think about Dave," said George Manahan, who keeps
photos of his brother close at hand in his downtown
office. "He was the oldest brother. He was the
responsible one in the family. Even growing up, he wore a
suit and bow tie."
It didn't take much for
Manahan to decide to sponsor Saturday's 5th Annual Green
Chili Shoot Out at the Capitol Market in Charleston. The
event features live music from the Voodoo Katz and
culinary competition from local chili chefs. Tickets to
sample the chili are three for $1, and proceeds go to
help the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation.
"To me, it's a mission in
life to tell as many people as possible about the ravages
of cancer," said Manahan, when asked why he wanted to
sponsor the chili cook off. "Until you have somebody in
your family, until you're touched personally by it, you
just don't understand."
Dr. Tyshaun James-Hart, a
cancer specialist at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston,
said about 1 percent of all breast cancer cases are men.
In the past 10 years, she has treated only two men for
the disease.
But, while rare, breast
cancer in men is no less deadly than the disease can be
for women.
"It basically has the
same prognosis, stage by stage, as women," said
James-Hart. "But it's often not diagnosed as quickly
because people don't think of men getting breast
cancer."
Because male breast
cancer is so rare, doctors haven't even developed
mammography techniques and screening processes the way
they have for women. But James-Hart said the good news is
self-examination for breast cancer is a lot easier for
men because it's usually much easier to find a lump or
other abnormality.
James-Hart said male
breast cancer seems to be linked with an imbalance of the
female hormone estrogen or the male hormone testosterone.
Because hormonal imbalances can lead to an increased risk
of male breast cancer, any sudden change in the breasts
or testicles should be reported to a doctor
immediately.
"Even though it's very
rare for men, early detection is the key to survival,"
she said.
