The goal of the John W. Nick Foundation, Inc. is to educate the world about the risk of breast cancer in men, and to provide preventive and reactive measures to cancer through education and research. The Foundation was founded in 1995 by Nancy Nick, with the help of her mother Patricia, and son Adam, in memory of her father John Nick, who died from breast cancer in 1991 at the age of 58. John was from Long Island, New York where the incidence of female breast cancer is high.

Unfortunately, John, his family and some of his physicians were unaware that men can be at risk for breast cancer. Due to his late diagnosis, early detection was not available. He actually went to doctors three times in eight years and was told his symptoms were nothing to worry about. He listened to his doctors and did nothing, which allowed the breast cancer to spread through his body. Eight years later, his symptoms were finally recognized and a mastectomy was performed. Six months later he lost his battle.

The events surrounding John's late diagnosis of male breast cancer, even after he expressed concern to three different physicians, were Nancy's catalyst. She started the Foundation to educate people, and the medical community, about the disease that killed her father. Her crusade began in 1994 with a promise to her father that the world would know about male breast cancer. She promised that men would know that they are not alone and that male breast cancer does happen. Her work has helped to make sure John W. Nick did not die in vain, and the Foundation's educational outreach program has saved lives.

The Foundation's website contains valuable links for individuals wishing to learn more about male breast cancer, as well as booklets and brochures that can be downloaded. Additionally, there are personal accounts contributed by men who have had breast cancer -- the hope is that sharing their stories may help other men recognize the disease and/or cope with a diagnosis.

The following is a quick quiz for men to determine if they may be at risk:

• Do you have a breast lump, pain in your breast, swelling in your breast, or swelling under your arm?
• Do you have a hard, painless lump or a bloody or clear discharge?
• Is your nipple inverted and accompanied by local pain or itching?
• Do you have redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin?
• Do you have one breast larger than the other?
• Do you have a family history of male or female breast cancer?
• Have any of your close, blood relatives been identified with the hereditary breast cancer gene BRCA1 or BRCA2?
• Are you of Ashkenazi Jewish descent?
• Have you been diagnosed with a liver disease?
• Have you been exposed to blast furnaces, steel foundries, rolling mills, electromagnetic fields, or ionization radiation?
• Have you been diagnosed with a low testosterone level?
• Have you had your testicles removed or injured from hernia surgery?
• Did you start puberty late (ages 16 to 18)?

Obviously, a yes to any of these questions does not mean someone has male breast cancer, but it at least provides men and their families with a template for determining their risk.

For more information about this disease, visit www.johnwnickfoundation.org.