From The Baltimore Sun - 10/24/07
Man Power (PDF)
Men Against Breast Cancer
(Health & Fitness)
Originally published November 06, 2007
By Krista Brick
Special to the News-Post
Men Against Breast Cancer
- www.menagainstbreastcancer.org
- 866-547-MABC
ADAMSTOWN -- Sharing feelings, talking about fears and offering support ... doesn't sound like the sort of thing a stereotypical man would be in to. That is, of course, until the diagnosis of breast cancer enters your life.
One local man has turned his need to empower himself against the disease into a foundation that is assisting men from across the nation and world to find out how they can best help themselves and the women in their lives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Marc Heyison of Adamstown heard the horrific words that his mother had breast cancer in 1992. After raising funds to find a cure for the disease and supporting his mother through treatment, he found his real calling to battling the disease was to start a support and coping foundation called Men Against Breast Cancer. The foundation, now 500 members strong, recently wrapped up its second annual conference in Baltimore.
"There are great organizations out there for caregivers, but there was no national concerted effort focusing on men," Heyison said. "Men as a generalization think we can fix things and we must realize we can't fix this."
Instead, what MABC does is teach coping skills to make men better caregivers to the women who have breast cancer. It also allows them to express themselves to others who can understand their emotions. It is the first non-profit organization providing targeted support services and programs for men whose loved one is facing this disease.
This year, about 42 men from 19 different states attended the two-day conference in Baltimore held Aug. 24-26 at the Tremont Plaza Hotel. Heyison said the conference included programs led by doctors explaining the diagnosis and prognosis and treatment for breast cancer patients. During the conference, participants learned about the COPE program, which is a specific problem-solving technique that can act as a blueprint to help men express their feelings, interpret their loved-one's emotions and even how to ask the right questions to get the right information from physicians.
The program was led by Matthew J. Loscalzo, who served as the director of patient and family services and co-director of the comprehensive cancer pain service at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Oncology Center in Baltimore.
"We've seen clinical proof that in addition to timely, quality medical care, having an educated and skilled male partner positively impacts the woman's mental well- being, which in turn enhances survivorship," Loscalzo said.
Spreading the word to male caregivers is the MABC goal.
"Using this method, these men are better able to manage the problems in life and therefore they can handle this crisis better," Heyison said. "By using this method you can improve survivorship by lowering the distress level."
Michael Steeves, of Frederick, happened upon the MABC organization after doing online research about breast cancer support groups for his wife, Alice McCormick.
At 52, McCormick got the word she has breast cancer and is now undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the disease.
"My first reaction was one of disbelief that this can't be happening," Steeves said. "What caught my eye was the MABC group formed so we can help women deal with this disease better."
Steeves said he was hesitant to attend the conference and wasn't sure how worthwhile it would be. When it was over, Steeves said he became a staunch supporter of the effort.
"You get this picture of men sitting around and feeling sorry for themselves, but that is not what it is at all. It is men scared to death about what someone they love is going through and trying to find a way to empower themselves to get through it," he said.
Steeves said he has used what he learned in the conference to be able to take care of his wife, his 7- and 14-year-old children and himself.
"Personally, what I learned the most was a sense of feeling confident that I have the tools I need to be strong and sensitive. By sharing my feelings I can be strong at the same time and be able to listen to her fears and not get lost in my own," he said.
In an attempt to reach more men, Heyison released a book Oct. 11 titled "For the Women We Love, a Breast Cancer Battle Plan and Action Guide for Men."
"It is a guidebook where you can read the chapter you are interested in. It talks about specific issues you will face when battling breast cancer," Heyison said.
The book can be downloaded free from the MABC website or a hard-copy version can be purchased on www.amazon.com for $12.50. All of the net proceeds from the book sales go to the MABC program development
Heyison said his organization is also working on ways to offer smaller, regional conferences and a couples conference. The group expects to launch a Spanish-language conference within two years.
MABC has a five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control, awarded in 2003, to offer Partners in Survival workshops for both men and women, during which participants learn the COPE model. The workshops are offered in partnership with local health care organizations throughout the country.
MABC also hosts a Think Pink and Blue fundraiser gala, held on Oct. 11 this year at the Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C.
Honorees this year included Charrisse Jackson-Jordon, the wife of Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan and president of the NBA Wives Association Behind the Bench for her work on breast cancer issues.
