My name is Paul Cucinelli of Essex Junction, Vermont. I attended the conference last year, and not only shared my story online, but also participated in discussions with other cancer survivors at the conference. My story is certainly not unique, but I tell it because I feel that women and men should know that men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer.

In 2003, I was working as an instructor for the US Department of State at the American Embassy in Brussels, Belgium. I was to return home in a week after spending more than a month in five different countries. I was feeling OK, just a little tired. I decided to do some exercise, consisting of weights and the tread mill. I took a shower, and found a small lump on my right breast. That seemed really strange to me, and thought that I should check it out. As luck would have it I was scheduled for my annual physical checkup the day I after I returned. Good timing, actually better timing than I could ever have imagined.

I was not only scheduled for a physical, but I was about to be married. I went to my physical appointment, and told my family doctor about the lump. My doctor said that it could be a result of getting older, or of having lost some weight, or just physical changes. His next words were that although he didn't think there was a problem, we shouldn't take any chances, and he referred me to the Breast Care Center at Fletcher Allen.

I met with the surgeon at the center, and he told me that he agreed with my family doctor regarding the changes with my body and that he didn't think there was anything to worry about. His next words were, we shouldn't take any chances and we should do a biopsy. I figured that he would make an appointment for me, and we would meet at another time. That wasn't his plan at all. Before I knew it, I was lying on the table about receive a local anesthetic, and he was going to do the biopsy, right now!!! In a matter of minutes, the procedure was done, I got a couple of stitches, and I was on my way.

I am sure that you can guess what happened next. Two weeks to the day after I was married, I received a phone message from the doctor. I called him back, but was unable to get him. Saturday morning, I received another call from the doctor, and he told me that I had a malignant tumor on my right breast, and he wanted to see me on Monday. Anytime you receive a call from the doctor on Saturday morning, it usually isn't good news. My response was they we would live with this. In other words, we would do what had to be done and move on from there. I had no idea what I was in for, but my attitude from the beginning was that we were going to beat this.

I had my consultation with the surgeon. We discussed different options, and decided on a lumpectomy procedure. On Thursday morning of the following week, the procedure was completed, no other cancer was found, and I went home that night. I know I am making it sound pretty simple; it was not. We all go through different phases and thought processes. I guess my thing was that I didn't feel like a whole person anymore. I felt like I was less of a man. I never did say, Why Me!!! That never entered my head.

During conversation with family and friends they asked many questions. One came from my youngest daughter, Jessica. She asked, "why you Dad? With all the women in this family, why would you be the one to get breast cancer?" My answer to Jessica was, "why not me? If I deal with it, no one else will have to."

Four years later, I am cancer free. I have always enjoyed public speaking, I love to teach, and I team teach with my wife Anne at Woodbury College. Part of any conversation that I have with students, men and women is that men can get breast cancer. Know your body, and if you have a question, don't be afraid to ask it. My goal in life is to inform as many people as I can about breast cancer in women and men. I thank you for the chance to share my story, and wish everyone good health.