One
Percent
share
operation she had removed approximately 20 lymph
nodes. Two of the nodes had been completely affected,
but one only had a microscopic trace of cancer. My
prognosis was good. I was referred to the cancer centre
was numb, this is the only way to describe how I
for treatment, which I completed successfully.
felt when told I had breast cancer. Men don’t
From the very beginning my loving wife, Cathy
get breast cancer. At least that’s what I
BY
has been a wonderful, strong support. She’s given
thought until July 14, 2011. My story starts in
PETER
me strength to carry on. I’ve been blessed with the
early May 2011 when I was scratching an itch
PLATT
support of women breast cancer survivors, as well
on my left breast and I felt a small lump. It felt
as support from friends and strangers. Additional
odd, but I really wasn’t too concerned. At the
support has come from the wonderful staff at the
insistence of Cathy, I contacted my doctor the
Women’s Breast Health Centre at the Civic Campus
next morning. She examined the area, told me it was
of the Ottawa Hospital. I’m also in a breast cancer
probably nothing, but would need to do some tests. She
support group at the Health Centre. There are eight
said only about 1% of breast cancer cases are men. I told
to 10 women in the group, and me, the only male. I
myself I was going to be OK; I was certain I would be in
was concerned about being accepted in the group,
the 99% category.
but my fears were unfounded; I was accepted from the
On July 14 my doctor said the biopsy showed the
first meeting.
tumor was malignant, an Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma.
I was never concerned about breast cancer. I
Never had I felt so frightened. As a male, I was so guarded
contributed to breast cancer research, awareness
with my feelings, I looked desperately around the examindrives, and thought nothing of doing self-exams.“Only
ing room, wondering what to do with the waves of panic
one percent,” I recall the doctor reassuring me. Yet, I
and weakness that swept over me. I was alone, I felt, alone,
was that one percent. I thought, ‘Where is the public
not knowing anyone, any female, let alone any male who
awareness for men about breast cancer?’
had breast cancer. On September 1, I had a complete
For me one percent has become a large statistic.
mastectomy and sentinel lymph node removal and two
Not only do I have a greater understanding of breast
weeks later an Axillary Lymph Node Dissection.
cancer for both sexes, I now find myself thinking of the
I was an Ottawa Police Officer for 25 years and faced
simple steps we can take to prevent “small statistics” from
many life threatening situations throughout my career
doing us harm. Education and greater public awareness
and dealt with those the best way I could. They had come
of course, is the key. Whether it’s the importance of selfand gone, leaving their scars. After many years I became
breast exams, regular checkups, or maintaining healthy
severely disabled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
With help, I have learned to manage it. I’ve come out of
lifestyles, only through public eduction will people know
the darkness, but now it seemed I
breast cancer is not a gender based disease,
was entering an even darker world
but rather a disease that affects both women
of deadly cells playing a dreadful
and men.
Peter Platt is a retired Police
game of hide-and-seek with the
Peter Platt
Officer and breast cancer thriver
body. Unlike dealing with criminals
Officer and
who sits on the Board of Direcon the streets, I was unsure how I
who sits on
tors of Breast Cancer Action
would deal with this elusive disease.
tors of Breast
Ottawa and is involved with
On October 31 I was informed
Ottawa and
the Badge of Life Canada.
by my surgeon that in the second
the Badge of
My story is dedicated to my wife Cathy who has supported me
from the beginning.
I
Fall 2013
THE PINK PAPER
13