Jeremy Bailey, breast cancer survivor
- In 2019, at the age of 35, Jeremy found a lump in his breast.
- When he went to his primary care physician, he was told he was too young for cancer, and that it wouldn’t be breast cancer since only one percent of men get it.
- He insisted on a mammogram. Despite the image showing a lump, the radiologist said it was benign.
- Jeremy still wasn't convinced and insisted on a biopsy. Three weeks later, he got his official diagnosis of breast cancer.
- He thought his aggressive treatment, which included a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, was the end of his worries. But in 2022 during a physical before undergoing an elective surgery, an oncologist was called in when they found a swollen lymph node.
- Those doctors said the cancer has metastasized and there was nothing more they could do.
- So Jeremy headed The University of Kansas Cancer Center where they found that the cancer had NOT metastasized but his surgeons at his prior hospital had not removed all of the tissue during his double mastectomy.
- Jeremy’s story of being his own advocate and insisting on answers when he knew something was wrong has earned him a lot of attention, including two proclamations from the state. His story also led to the dedication of a week in October for male breast cancer awareness. Jeremy hopes his story saves lives.
- He is grateful for his support system who helped him through this process.
Dr. Jamie Wagner, division chief, breast surgical oncology, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
- With only one percent of breast cancer in men, they don't automatically think this could be a breast cancer so they will just let it go. As a result, when we see male breast cancer finally diagnosed, it can be at a slightly more advanced stage.
- We see a lot of male breast cancers associated with BRCA mutations. We do want to identify those genetic mutations -- you can equally pass that on to your son.
- And if you have a mutation such as a BRCA mutation, your son can have a higher risk of breast cancer. He also can have a risk of prostate cancer at a much younger age. So it is as meaningful for what we can pass down to our sons as to our daughters.
- We do our best to advocate for men to know their bodies just as much as women. And that includes breasts.
- We're very fortunate to have a lymphedema Center of Excellence -- one of the few in the country that have this designation.
- We are pushing forward with lymphedema research as well as our methods for prevention, early detection, and early intervention. Through our methods, we have been able to identify ways to get patients back down to normal 94 percent of the time, which is excellent.
- Be the advocate. If you feel in your gut that something is not right, just have it checked out.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director, infection prevention & control, The University of Kansas Health System
- COVID hospitalizations this week are at 22 active patients. Last week, it was 19.
- Moderna recently published results from a trial where they combined two vaccines together to form one vaccine for influenza and COVID.
- What they’ve found so far is that the combined vaccine is very safe.
- Hopefully with this combination it will help decrease the overall number of shots someone has to get.
- This format is not new. We have other vaccines that are combined, such as MMR -- measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
Morning Medical Update is on TV in October! The four-part series Cancer: Choices, Hope and Science will air on Tuesdays in October. In the Kansas City area, it’s on KCTV5 at 9:30 a.m. and in Topeka, it’s on WIBW at 9 a.m.
Monday, Oct. 9 at 8 a.m. CT is the next Morning Medical Update. Learn more about a woman who was seven months pregnant and felt something was not right. She ignored doctors who said it was typical and got a second opinion that saved her life.
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