News
RIFLE, Colorado — Daryl Monroe was 67-years-old when he was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“It’s been almost five years now,” Monroe said. “Initially it was a bone cancer diagnosis.”
So, Monroe was stumped when the doctors came in and told him that they wanted to give him a mammogram, checking his breast for cancer.
“They found cells from bones and the breast,” he said. “Most people think it’s strange and unusual, but more and more studies are showing (breast cancer) is more common than we realize.”
Daryl’s wife of 22 years, Alice Monroe, is making the trip from their home in Glade Park, near Grand Junction, to Rifle High School for the Rifle Area Relay for Life event going on tonight. She does not know for sure if Daryl will be able to accompany her or not, regardless she is bringing with her an important message.
“Women are well informed about the disease,” Alice said. “We know what to do, even though we may not do it, we still are educated on what to look for. It’s not like that for men.”
The Monroes are looking to change that and they are gaining ground, too. In just the past two years, they’ve started a campaign to spread the word about what men can do to check for breast cancer. One of the easiest things, according to Alice, who is a registered nurse, is for men to check them selves in the mirror each day looking for anything that doesn’t look normal.
“Real men can get breast cancer, too,” Daryl said. “We want to spread the word and let men know that there is a problem with breast cancer.”
Daryl had his right breast removed after he was diagnosed. But the bone cancer was already too far advanced for treatment to be affective, Alice said.
“The problem is when it’s detected it’s usually so far advanced that they seldom have a chance,” Alice said. “That is where my passion comes from, to try and save another life of a man even though Daryl’s is unable to be cured.”
Contact John Gardner: 384-9114
jgardner@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO
“It’s been almost five years now,” Monroe said. “Initially it was a bone cancer diagnosis.”
So, Monroe was stumped when the doctors came in and told him that they wanted to give him a mammogram, checking his breast for cancer.
“They found cells from bones and the breast,” he said. “Most people think it’s strange and unusual, but more and more studies are showing (breast cancer) is more common than we realize.”
Daryl’s wife of 22 years, Alice Monroe, is making the trip from their home in Glade Park, near Grand Junction, to Rifle High School for the Rifle Area Relay for Life event going on tonight. She does not know for sure if Daryl will be able to accompany her or not, regardless she is bringing with her an important message.
“Women are well informed about the disease,” Alice said. “We know what to do, even though we may not do it, we still are educated on what to look for. It’s not like that for men.”
The Monroes are looking to change that and they are gaining ground, too. In just the past two years, they’ve started a campaign to spread the word about what men can do to check for breast cancer. One of the easiest things, according to Alice, who is a registered nurse, is for men to check them selves in the mirror each day looking for anything that doesn’t look normal.
“Real men can get breast cancer, too,” Daryl said. “We want to spread the word and let men know that there is a problem with breast cancer.”
Daryl had his right breast removed after he was diagnosed. But the bone cancer was already too far advanced for treatment to be affective, Alice said.
“The problem is when it’s detected it’s usually so far advanced that they seldom have a chance,” Alice said. “That is where my passion comes from, to try and save another life of a man even though Daryl’s is unable to be cured.”
Contact John Gardner: 384-9114
jgardner@postindependent.com
Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO
Men get it too
for more information on male breast cancer visit the Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s website at; http://www.cancercenter.com/male-breast-cancer.htm?
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