Welcome to BREAST CANCER IN MEN.ORG

WHAT IS THIS WEBSITE ABOUT?

The Brandon Greening Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness was started to provide education, care, and support for the breast cancer community. We will strive to educate not only women but men who have had or are at risk of having breast cancer. Very few people are aware that men can get breast cancer too. We will strive to change that misconception. We will stress the importance of early detection and treatment.  For those undergoing treatment we will supply resources to give information and treatment options. We will also offer online support groups for patients and care givers where men and women across the nation can share their experiences with each other. Our goal is to raise money so we can offer support services to patients, family, and caregivers in the community. We will also support breast cancer research. One day there will be a cure for breast cancer and we will do our part to support that effort.

Brandon Greening Sr.

Founder

WHY WAS THIS WEBSITE CREATED?

My name is Brandon Greening Sr. and I have breast cancer.

I think the first time I heard that, I was in disbelief. I did not know it was even possible for men to get breast cancer. I was 35 years old and in otherwise great health. I have a wife (Connie) and 3 boys (Matthew, Brandon Jr., and Dakota). I have worked for UPS for 20 years, currently as a driver. I also spend my free time coaching football.

In September of 2007 I noticed a bump on my right nipple. I thought it was a pimple or an ingrown hair. In October, after it started hurting, I went to get it checked out. My family doctor examined the bump and said I should not be concerned, but he decided to send me to a specialist just in case. It was enough to make me nervous. I saw a specialist 3 weeks later. He examined me and came to the same conclusion but he wanted to do some imaging tests and possibly a biopsy to make sure. He told me it may take a couple more weeks to get an appointment. I was not about to wait any longer. I asked for a biopsy asap. Luckily he had the rest of the afternoon free and was able to do the biopsy in his office that day. After an agonizing week and 3 days, I received a phone call at 10:30 PM Sunday night. I knew as soon as I saw my doctors name on the caller id. He wouldn't be calling that late on Sunday with good news. I was right. He told me that the lump was malignant. One week later I had a mastectomy. During the surgery the surgeon also removed a number of lymph nodes. Unfortunately many of the nodes were positive for cancer. It was everything I could do to digest this new bad news. Little did I know the bad news was just going to get worse. I had a PET scan done and again I got a call on a Sunday with more bad news. The cancer had already spread to my spine, liver, and hip. After he said those words the room started spinning and I don't think I heard anything after that. Eventually, I handed the phone to my wife and she finished talking to the doctor.

I very seldom show emotion, but we both did a lot of crying that night. The only thing I could think of is how much I was going to miss. Graduations, marriages, and grandchildren that I would never see. Everything that was important to me was being ripped apart. I had a very angry talk with God. I was a good person. What the heck did I do to deserve this? It took me a couple of days to get myself together and get the negative thoughts out of my system. Then I had a turning point. My pastor, Rick Barrick, gave me a book called "Christ the Healer". It helped give me a different perspective on my life and my illness. I decided to renew my faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I gave my life to Christ. Through him, all things are possible! I knew he still had a plan for me, and I decided to trust in his plan no matter what it was. My family had a harder time with their faith. They were still very angry and hurt by our situation. I also decided that I would not allow my cancer to take over my life. I wanted to set an example for my kids. No matter what life throws at you, don't ever giveup. You need to remember all that you have been blessed with in your life, and give the glory to God for those things. I believe that I was put in this situation for a reason. Maybe it was to help my family and others find their faith indifficult situations.

My Oncologist started me on a very aggressive chemo regimen immediately. Within 2 months, I showed incredible progress. The cancer was almost gone. After 2 more months, I got the results of the PET scan. N.E.D. No evidence of disease. I finally had some great news. My prayers were answered. I continued with my chemo regimen with Herceptin for another 2 months. I was then told I could take a break. I also resumed my work schedule as a UPS driver. Things seemed to be returning to normal. Another 3 months went by with no problems. Then I hurt my back at work lifting a 90 lb box. I got an MRI for the injury to my back. The results showed that I had a herniated disk. What it also showed was that my cancer was back. It came back in all the same areas as before. I knew that it was a possibility, but I was not expecting it to come back that soon. I had a different attitude this time around though. Even though the news was discouraging, my faith in Jesus Christ gave me the strength to continue to fight. My family was still struggling with their faith. They didn't understand why this was happening to our family. I think that sometimes it is harder for the family and caregiver than it is for the person that has cancer.

I again went on an aggressivechemo regimen. I stayed on that regimen for 4 months and didn't have great results in my bones, but my liver was cleared. I was then put on an oral form of chemo called Xeloda. After being on this drug for 3 months my bone mets showed some improvement. After 3 more months the cancer was almost gone again. Just a small spot left on my spine.

During this time a true miracle happened. My youngest son Dakota (11 years old) gave his life to Christ. On Easter Sunday my wife gave her life to Christ. Then a week before my middle son (Brandon Jr.) was supposed to report to Towson University, he gave his life to Christ. A couple days later my oldest son (Matt) gave his life to Christ. After struggling with their faith for so long, my entire family had been saved. It was a very uplifting moment for me. I knew that no matter what happened to me, my family would be ok.

Within the last 2 months the cancer has come back again. Again, it is in all the same spots, except, for the first time, I now have brain mets. Just another bump in the road! I am scheduled to do radiation this week. After I get rid of those mets I will start back on chemo again. I will try to keep this updated when I have finished my treatment.

I am also going to pour my energy into starting this foundation and website. I really want to help get more information on male breast cancer out to the public. I also want to raise awareness that men can get breast cancer too. We are in this together. Lets combine all of our resources to beat this terrible disease!

One thing I have learned through all of this is that if you put your faith in Christ, anything is possible. It may not turn out the way you want it to, but you will be rewarded either in this life or on the other side of glory. -----John 3:16

God Bless!

Brandon Greening Sr.