Male Breast Cancer Support Group

http://www.theledger.com/article/2...

My name is Mike Partain and I was diagnosed with male breast
cancer on April 25th 2007. The day of my eighteenth wedding anniversary.
Ever since I was diagnosed with Male Breast Cancer, I have been at a
loss to explain where or how I developed the disease. It is very rare
in men. Less than 1% of the total 200,000 yearly breast cancers are in
men. Of those who contract the disease, most of them are between the ages
of 60 and 70. I am 39 years old. I am BRCA 1 and 2 negative for hereditary breast cancer.

I was conceived and born at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base NC. My
father is a Naval Academy Graduate and was stationed at the base from
April of 1967 until May 1968. I was born there on January 30th 1968.
My parents resided at the base and were housed at 3374 Haggaru Ct in
Tarawa Terrace.

After my surgery, my father saw a report on CNN concerning
contamination of the base water supply. The contamination was with
volatile organic compounds called VOCs. The compounds are PCE and
TCE. These chemicals were the basis of a contamination story detailed in the movie and book "A Civil Action". They are degreasers and were used by the base and an off base dry cleaners then disposed of on or in the ground. The chemicals made
it into the base water supply and were supplied to base housing via
finished tap water from 1957 till 1987. The cancer appeared in
my right breast. I underwent a mastectomy on May 4th of this year.
The tumor was 2.5Cm and 1 lymph node was taken. Thankfully, there
appears to be no metastases at this point. My parents were never contacted
by the Marine Corps nor ATSDR to advise us of the contamination at the time of my birth.
There is no history of breast cancer in my mother's family or my father's.
I completed Chemo-Therapy November 6th 2007.

I am looking for other male breast cancer cases in those who either
lived, were born or served at Camp LeJeune NC. There is one other that I
have found. He lived in the same subdivision at the same time I was
born. He was diagnosed with MBC 2 years ago at the age of 47. I recently joined
the CAP (Community Assistance Panel)for ATSDR for Camp LeJeune. The panel works
with the military, the scientist and affected community members to identify and
study those who were affected. There I met an epidemiologist from Boston University.
Dr Clapp stated they had seen male breast cancer cases at prior PCE/TCE contamination
sites located at Woburn and Cape Cod Massachusetts.

Thanks

Mike Partain
Tallahassee Fl 32309
850-339-0828
Posted on 01/05/08, 01:01 pm