Male breast cancer survivor Peter Devereaux shares his story

Things have been moving at crazy pace lately as we continue to launch From Incurable to Incredible. I’ve been preparing for the TV appearance this weekend, as well as a radio interview on July 6 at 2 p.m. with Bill Cunningham on WLW 700-AM in Cincinnati.  In related news, Joseph Beth Booksellers will start carrying the book in Cincinnati, hopefully by this weekend.

I think I need some pointers from Peter Devereaux, who is certainly no stranger to media attention.  Peter, a 48-year-old breast cancer survivor who lives in the Boston area, has been on CNN and interviewed by newspapers like the Chicago Tribune to spread awareness  about male breast cancer and what he believes caused it.

Peter is one of 60 men with breast cancer from Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina . They found the water at the base was laced with trichloroethylene, TCE; tetrachloroethylene, PCE; benzene; and other volatile organic chemicals. Peter believes this is the cause for his and the other men’s cancer. (For more information on the male breast cancer at Camp Lejeune,  go to www.TFTPTF.com.)

I’ll let Peter tell his amazing story:

My Breast cancer journey started  on January 11, 2008. I woke up in the morning with a good-sized lump in my chest as my hand bumped into it. At that point in my life,  I had no idea men could get breast cancer.

I contacted my doctor and received a mammogram and ultrasound followed by a core biopsy. The doctor called me to let me know I had an aggressive form of breast cancer. It was the first time I knew I had breast.  

We then went for a second opinion at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA.  I would always recommend getting a second opinion!   I had mastectomy on my left breast and had 22 lymph nodes removed. They were all cancerous.

I started a 14-month program including chemotherapy, radiation and a clinical trial with the drug Lapatanib. My doctors let me know the severity of the disease and the probability of it coming back were strong.

Thirteen days before my treatments were scheduled to end, I started having shooting pain down my spine. Tests confirmed the cancer had traveled to my spine, rib and my hip.

The average life expectancy for my diagnosis is two to three years, but I will never give up or give in. I am continuing to work on bringing education, awareness and research to male and metastatic breast cancer. I will never give up or give in. I continue to search for a cure..

This whole journey has been humbling to say the least. It’s such a weird deal not only to have cancer, but to also have a women’s cancer. My family and friends bring me constant joy, especially when I see my wife and daughter smiling.

I also do a lot of outreach. When I was first diagnosed, I looked for a man with breast cancer and could not found one. I try to be that guy and the face of male and metastatic cancer and feel this is the reason I have breast cancer.

Constant treatments and surgeries wear me down, but I focus more of on what I have than what I lost. I will remain passionate and continue to be involved. I hope to see a cure in my lifetime, and lead a long, meaningful life.