Breast Cancer Advice Center

Why are many Breast Cancer charities marketed as being ladies-only...isn't that prejudiced?

First off I am in no way condemning these charities' work or their efforts to help those affected by breast cancer; I lost my own grandmother to it and feel greatly for anyone affected. However I must admit I find it almost offensive that many of these charities are almost 'ladies-only'. Why is this? It is a known fact that gentlemen too suffer from breast cancer (albeit a small percentage) and does this ethic not almost exclude them? Surely something along the lines of Cervical Cancer would be more suited to a ladies-only approach, if indeed a gender-based focus is needed at all? Breast Cancer affects millions and not all of them female. I'd be interested to hear any thoughts on this, and once more I add that am in no way against these charities' works, they are doing a great job and my heart goes out to anyone with contact of this condition. Thanks For example, at work there was a day of raising funds for Breast Cancer awareness that did very well and everyone chipped in, I myself helping to gather donations in memory of the afore-mentioned grandmother. The next day there was to be a 5-mile charity fun-run through the town to raise more funds, but I was told I could not enter myself as I was not a lady.

Public Comments

1. No they are not. I have never seen a man be discriminated against in these charities. They advertise more women because more women get breast cancer. I have participated in numerous activities sponsored by breast cancer charities, and each time there has been many men there. I'm going to say about 50/50 males to females.
2. i`m sorry to hear about you grandmother.I agree completely there is very little help out there for men in this position and that needs to change.It must make it hard for men to deal with as if it is not hard enough.
3. Perhaps because there are more women then men would be my best guess and thus, more people starting various foundations. But yes, men do get breast cancer as well. Hopefully, more foundations will appear as time and awareness go forward. Try doing a web search with the brackets around the inquiry (" mens breast cancer foundations") and/or other variations. That should get you more specific (male orientated) answers.