James Breast Cancer Story

When James was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 at 36-years-old, he didn’t think he would live to reach age 40. But 25 years after his diagnosis, surrounded by friends and family, the American Cancer Society’s 2023 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk became an unexpected celebration of all he had endured during his journey with cancer.

James first noticed a lump on his right breast while showering nearly three decades ago and immediately knew he needed to get it checked out. After some tests, including a scan and a biopsy, his life changed in a big way when he was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could get breast cancer,” he says. The diagnosis came as a shock, particularly because there is not a ton of education about breast cancer in men and many men don’t even realize they can get breast cancer. He feels fortunate that during this challenging time, his brother-in-law Bob and his late sister Anna helped him find an amazing physician—Dr. Rita Weiss, who is a board certified hematologist-oncologist at New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (NYCBS). 

When James was first diagnosed, Dr. Weiss encouraged him to fight hard. And that’s exactly what he did. With two very young children at home, he put everything he could into staying alive to be there for his family. “I said to myself—I’m not going to feel sorry for myself, I’m just going to just take care of business and do what I have to do.”

Now, James’ son is 26 and his daughter is 29. He’s grateful that he was able to watch them grow and be there for some of life’s most important moments, like walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding last year. He was also touched to have many of his family and friends—including members of his local fire department where he’s an honorary member—by his side at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. As a testament to their support, they wore buttons that said “Jim’s Breast Friends,” which brought tears to his eyes. His fire company Engine Co#4 was also very supportive and dedicated shirts to him for his breast cancer awareness.

“You can't give up hope,” James says, reflecting back on his journey. “It's something that Dr. Weiss taught me—she taught me how to stay positive.”

From his first appointment with Dr. Weiss, James immediately felt at ease. At a time when he was so scared and unsure of what he was up against, she always treated him like a human and never like a statistic. She encouraged him to remain hopeful and even helped explain James’ diagnosis to his 3-year-old daughter. “ It was such a beautiful thing,” he says. “She is probably one of the most compassionate and thorough doctors that you can ever ask for.”

After thoughtfully guiding James’ treatment and follow-up care for 26 years, including chemotherapy and a modified mastectomy, Dr. Weiss has become more than a doctor to James— she’s also his friend. “She told me when I was going through chemo that she was going to be with me every step of the way and she was,” he says. “She’s a credit to her profession.”

Now, at 62, James is dedicated to educating people in his life about male breast cancer. He wants others to understand that even though breast cancer isn’t as common among men, it’s still possible.

He encourages friends and family to check themselves for breast cancer and to take action if they detect something abnormal or suspicious. He also wants men to know that mammograms  are an important breast cancer screening tool, and not just for women. They’re currently recommended for men who have symptoms or are at high risk for breast cancer. 

James is an open book when it comes to talking about cancer with others, and he hopes others can benefit from hearing about his experience. “That’s my goal, for somebody to benefit and not have to go through what I went through.”