Gov. Patrick To Sign Bill For Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick wants Massachusetts men to know that they also can get breast cancer.
Men rarely get breast cancer, but those who do often don't survive as long as women, mainly because they don't even realize they can get it and are slow to recognize the warning signs.
A recent study found that men's breast tumors were larger at diagnosis, more advanced and more likely to have spread to other parts of the body.
Many men have no idea that they can get breast cancer, and some doctors are in the dark, too, dismissing symptoms that would be an automatic red flag in women.
Patrick is hoping to change that in Massachusetts beginning Monday, when he signs a bill designating the third week of October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
