Male Breast Cancer Awareness Bill on Governor’s Desk

The following was provided by the office of Rep. Louis L. Kafka.

Senator James E. Timilty (D-Walpole) and Representative Louis L. Kafka (D-Stoughton) announced that their bill to raise awareness of the rate of breast cancer in men has passed both branches of the Legislature and is now on Governor Deval L. Patrick’s desk.

Brought to their attention by a constituent currently battling the disease, the bill names the third week of the month of October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week, which builds off October being Breast Cancer month. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 2190 cases of breast cancer in men will be diagnosed in 2012, and 410 men will die from it.

“I’m very pleased that we could make this happen,” said Representative Kafka. “A lot of people who I’ve been talking to about this bill were unaware that men were even at risk for this type of cancer. But it’s very real, and men need to know to be aware of it and get checked.”

“I’m glad we got this done in time for October,” said Senator Timilty. “Men need to know that they too could be at risk for breast cancer, and should be diligent about getting checked, just like any other forms of disease that are on their radar.”

The Governor is expected to sign the bill once he returns from the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, next week.