"Support groups 'exclude' men with breast cancer"
I was very disappointed to read the above story in The Age today. Mr Arnold has had a shattering experience, but I can confirm that BCNA has, for many years, included men in all that they offer.
It has been very evident that the majority of male breast cancer survivors prefer to tackle their battle alone, and we have all honoured their decision. It has been heart breaking for the women in their lives, but if that is what they choose, we must accept it.
As for altering the silhouettes into mini Mr Arnolds, there are many male silhouettes, mostly all dressed and decorated in varying styles from rural workers, business men with ties, and also guys with either jeans or walk shorts. Many of us have spent ages in an artistic endeavour to allow a male silhouette to come to completion for showing and in 9+ years I have not attended one mini field where the boys have been left out.
We can only try, as wives, lovers, mothers, sisters, cousins, aunts etc., the rest is up to you boys out there.
I think the article is a very sad story and hope all at BCNA are not feeling hurt and let down. Their efforts in this area have always been well intentioned and energised but that old saying "You can bring a horse to water but you can't make it drink" seems to ring true in this situation.
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Hi Mandy. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I just searched for any male group on the BCNA and came across about 6 groups, five were for "support partner" groups with less than forty members combined and the only group for "men diagnosed with breast cancer" had one member and that was the facilitator who was a BCNA editor. I do remember a post from Craig back in August this year titled "Men suffer too" and seven women responded in sympathy. http://www.bcna.org.au/user/5628
I don't think any one of us "pink" sisters would ever exclude a male from this network let alone the BCNA staff. I feel very sorry for Mr Arnold but I know that if he was an active member here, he would receive the same support and empathy that we show all our members. It's a great shame that men do not seek out more support but it's my experience that not many of our male brothers would. It's not BCNA who prevent this, in fact they embrace men and support them whenever they can.
Janey xxx
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I think he doesnt need our sympathy..and i think he has made a powerful statement there; it is of his previous expereince and i think there probably is some isolation for men with this particular cancer
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I think he doesnt need our sympathy..and i think he has made a powerful statement there; it is of his previous expereince and i think there probably is some isolation for men with this particular cancer
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