North Texas Reverend Speaks Out Against Breast Cancer
North Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – When the Rev. Mike Enette preaches, people listen. And, for the last eight years, he's been preaching a message that many have not heard before.
"When they brought the results back and told me what it was, I was devastated," the Rev. Enette said.
The day after Easter in 2004, Enette was diagnosed with a disease usually only associated with women.
Enette realized he had the cancer after he noticed leakage in his shirt. "The first thing I said was 'Oh, Lord, cancer!'," Enette said.
The Reverend suddenly found himself in unusual territory - often the only man in a woman's world.
"I know that God is my Father, so my question was 'Why me?' and His answer was 'Why not you?'," Enette said.
After a full mastectomy and a series of mammograms, he beat the disease. "There's shock about a man having a mammogram," he said."
And, over the last eight years, he's made it his mission to let people know men can and do get breast cancer. To do that, he travels around proudly wearing a bright pink suit including a jacket embroidered with the words "I HAD BREAST CANCER".
"For people who see you in this pink suit, what's their first reaction," Dr. Foster asked? "Just this morning, a lady walked up to me in the lobby and thanked me for supporting my wife with breast cancer," Enette said.
His hope now is that by talking more about his disease, other men with breast cancer will know they're not alone.
"I really thought that this is a woman thing, but it's really not," he said. "If I can be a help to somebody and let them know that just because you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, don't give up. If someone hits you, hit them back. Cancer hits you, you hit it back."
On April 12, Enette celebrated his eighth year cancer-free.
