Inside the Resounding Success of the 2025 MBCGA Medical Summit (DRAFT ONLY)

 DRAFT- NOT FOR PUBLISHING YET

A Record-Breaking Convergence and a New Global Standard

The Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance (MBCGA) 2025 Medical Summit has now firmly established itself as one of the most influential global forums dedicated to male breast cancer education, advocacy, and clinical advancement. Held October 24–25, 2025, the Summit exceeded expectations on every front—attendance, reach, scientific depth, and emotional resonance—surpassing participation records from previous years and signaling a new era of momentum for the Alliance

Under the visionary leadership of Cheri Ambrose, Founder and CEO of MBCGA, the Summit convened an extraordinary roster of international clinicians, researchers, survivors, caregivers, and advocates. What unfolded over two days was not simply a conference, but a living demonstration of how education, collaboration, and human connection can accelerate progress in a disease long overshadowed by gender bias.

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Where Science Met Humanity

The 2025 Summit featured a meticulously curated agenda addressing the most urgent and emerging frontiers in male breast cancer—from early access and precision diagnostics to survivorship, rehabilitation, mental health, and global equity

Opening sessions set a decisive tone. Naomi Litchfield of Bionical Emas underscored why early access to therapies is not a luxury but a lifeline. That message was carried forward by Jose Pablo Leone, who delivered critical updates on the ETHAN Clinical Trial, one of the most important research efforts focused exclusively on breast cancer in men.

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Innovation at the Clinical Frontier

Among the Summit’s most talked-about sessions was Robert Bard, whose presentation on image-guided tumor treatment showcased how advanced imaging is reshaping precision oncology. His emphasis on targeting disease while preserving healthy tissue reinforced a central Summit theme: smarter care, not more aggressive care

The future of precision monitoring took center stage with Ben Park, whose presentation on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was widely regarded as a cornerstone of the Summit. “Our ability now to de-escalate therapies based upon knowing who really has microscopic cancer cells left—and who doesn’t—is going to be game-changing,” Dr. Park stated, highlighting a paradigm shift that could spare patients unnecessary toxicity while accelerating cures

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Care Beyond Treatment

The Summit’s power lay equally in its attention to life beyond protocols. Charlotte Bayala delivered a deeply moving session on grounding oneself amid uncertainty—drawing from her lived experience as a caregiver. Her message echoed a sentiment that resonated across chat feeds and post-event feedback: science heals bodies, but presence heals families .

Physical recovery and long-term resilience were masterfully addressed by Leslie Waltke, whose evidence-based rehabilitation strategies reframed survivorship as an active, lifelong process rather than a passive aftermath.

Equally impactful was Barbara Bartlik, who confronted the often-ignored emotional and psychological toll of male breast cancer. Her call to integrate psychiatric care into oncology settings was both sobering and galvanizing

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A Global Perspective, A Shared Mission

Day two expanded the Summit’s lens internationally. Fatima Cardoso delivered a landmark address on advanced and metastatic male breast cancer, blending scientific rigor with a global advocacy perspective. Her remarks underscored the urgent need for equity in research funding, diagnostics, and access to care worldwide

Mentorship, survivorship, and palliative care were powerfully explored by leaders including Keeshia Jones and Don Dizon, whose reframing of palliative care as a pathway to thriving challenged long-standing misconceptions.

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Sponsors, Partners, and a Growing Movement

The success of the 2025 Summit was amplified by the engagement of sponsors and institutional partners—including Pfizer, whose participation highlighted the role of real-world evidence in expanding treatment access for men with breast cancer.

While final attendance figures are pending, organizers confirm that participation exceeded all prior MBCGA summits—an unmistakable indicator of growing global engagement and trust in the Alliance’s mission.

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A Defining Moment for MBCGA

As the final sessions closed, one truth was unmistakable: the 2025 MBCGA Medical Summit was not just successful—it was transformational. It validated years of advocacy, elevated underrepresented voices, and forged new pathways for collaboration across disciplines and borders.

In the words echoed throughout the Summit, education is not optional—it is survival. And in 2025, MBCGA proved that when the world comes together with purpose, progress follows.

SPECIAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Global 2026 Quarterly Webinar Series

MBCGA Launches a Global 2026 Quarterly Webinar Series—Education, Empowerment, and the Future of Male Breast Cancer Care

In 2026, the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance (MBCGA) is taking a decisive step forward in its educational mission with the launch of a Quarterly Global Webinar Series—a curated, high-impact program designed to bring timely science, lived experience, and clinical insight directly to patients, caregivers, clinicians, and advocates around the world.

This new series builds on years of MBCGA’s commitment to visibility, equity, and clarity in male breast cancer. From its earliest educational forums and digital town halls to international collaborations with clinicians and survivor-leaders, MBCGA has consistently used education as a catalyst for empowerment. The 2026 webinar series formalizes that mission into a structured, seasonal platform—each quarter focused on a topic that directly affects quality of life, decision-making, and long-term survivorship.

A Legacy of Education, Now Elevated

Historically, MBCGA webinars have served as safe spaces where complex topics—often overlooked in male breast cancer—could be explored openly. These sessions connected survivors with surgeons, geneticists, exercise physiologists, and integrative health experts, fostering dialogue that transcended borders. As the Alliance’s global reach expanded, so did the need for a more intentional educational arc—one that follows the patient journey from diagnosis through recovery and beyond.

The 2026 Quarterly Webinar Series answers that call. Each session is strategically timed, thoughtfully themed, and anchored by respected voices across medicine and advocacy. Together, they form a year-long narrative of care.

The 2026 Webinar Lineup

Spring | March 19 – Breast Reconstruction
Reconstruction is often framed through a female lens, leaving male patients navigating unanswered questions. This session addresses surgical options, physical outcomes, and the psychological dimensions of reconstruction—bringing clarity to an often under-discussed aspect of male breast cancer care.

Summer | June 17 – Exercise Oncology
Movement is medicine—but how, when, and why matters. The summer session explores the science of exercise oncology, examining how tailored physical activity supports recovery, reduces recurrence risk, and restores confidence after treatment.

Fall | September 24 – Genetics
Genetic testing and inherited risk are central to male breast cancer awareness. This webinar delves into genetic counseling, family implications, and emerging research—equipping patients and families with knowledge that informs prevention and vigilance.

Winter | December 9 – Detoxification
Closing the year, MBCGA turns its focus to detoxification and environmental health—an area of growing concern among survivors. This session examines toxic burden, post-treatment resilience, and practical strategies for supporting long-term health.

Voices That Matter

The strength of the series lies in its speakers—leaders who bridge science and lived experience. Featured guests include Dr. Leslie Montoya and Dan Root, representing Detox of Cancer and offering insight into recovery-focused detoxification strategies. Genetic expertise and clinical perspective are brought by Dr. Sarah Pearson and Dr. Leslie Waltke, while survivor-advocate Harvey Singer grounds each discussion in real-world experience.

Education That Serves the Community

Topic selection for the 2026 series was guided by one principle: relevance. Each theme reflects recurring questions from the MBCGA community—questions about identity after surgery, strength after treatment, inherited risk, and environmental exposures. By aligning expert knowledge with survivor priorities, the Alliance ensures that education remains practical, compassionate, and actionable.

Looking Ahead

The MBCGA Quarterly Webinar Series is more than a calendar of events—it is a declaration. A declaration that male breast cancer education deserves depth, continuity, and global reach. As 2026 unfolds, these webinars will not only inform but also connect, inspire, and empower a worldwide community committed to better outcomes and brighter futures.

"Education changes lives. In 2026, MBCGA is making sure it reaches everyone who needs it."

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The 2025 MBCGA Medical Summit marked a defining moment in global male breast cancer education—breaking attendance records and raising the bar for clinical, survivor, and advocacy-driven collaboration.

Held October 24–25, the Summit convened an extraordinary international faculty of oncologists, researchers, rehabilitation specialists, caregivers, survivors, and industry leaders, all united by one mission: advancing equity and outcomes for men with breast cancer. From groundbreaking discussions on circulating tumor DNA, image-guided tumor treatment, and advanced metastatic care, to powerful sessions on survivorship, mental health, caregiving, and rehabilitation, the program delivered depth, relevance, and humanity in equal measure.

Hosted by MBCGA Founder and CEO Cheri Ambrose, the event showcased why education is not optional—it is lifesaving. With global participation surpassing all previous years and strong engagement from institutional partners and sponsors, the 2025 Summit affirmed MBCGA’s role as a trusted convener and catalyst for progress. This was not just a conference—it was a turning point.

SEE COMPLETE FEATURE REVIEW ON THE 2025 MBCGA SUMMIT

Speaker 1: Dr Jose Pablo Leone- MBCGA 2025 Health Summit (October 24-26)

Redefining Endocrine Therapy for Men: Inside Dr. Jose Pablo Leone’s ETHAN Trial

For decades, the treatment of male breast cancer has remained largely unchanged—quietly borrowing from protocols designed for women while rarely being questioned, tested, or refined for men themselves. At the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Jose Pablo Leone has spent much of his career confronting this imbalance. Through the ETHAN clinical trial, now actively underway at Dana-Farber and collaborating academic centers, he is leading one of the most consequential efforts to modernize endocrine therapy for men with breast cancer—not through extrapolation or assumption, but through direct, carefully designed clinical investigation.

Dr. Leone’s work sits at the intersection of clinical urgency and scientific discipline. Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for a small fraction of overall breast cancer diagnoses, yet rarity has come at a cost. While endocrine therapies for women have advanced rapidly—incorporating aromatase inhibitors, ovarian suppression strategies, and targeted agents such as CDK4/6 inhibitors—men have remained tethered to tamoxifen, a drug that has served as the default standard for decades.

“We’re still treating men the way we did 30 or 40 years ago,” Dr. Leone has observed. “Not because it’s the best option, but because we’ve never definitively tested anything else.”

That gap is precisely why ETHAN exists.

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Why ETHAN Had to Be Built

Hormone receptor–positive disease represents approximately 90–95% of male breast cancer cases in the United States. In women, this subtype has been the focus of relentless innovation. Large trials reshaped care by demonstrating that aromatase inhibitors—alone or combined with ovarian suppression—could outperform tamoxifen in key settings. More recently, CDK4/6 inhibitors such as abemaciclib and ribociclib have extended disease-free survival even further.

For men, however, these advances created an uncomfortable paradox: better therapies exist, but clinicians lack the evidence to confidently apply them. “We’re stuck,” Dr. Leone explains, “because without male-specific data, every decision feels like a leap of faith.”

ETHAN was designed to replace that uncertainty with clarity.

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A Trial That Watches Tumors Respond in Real Time

Rather than attempting to replicate massive, multi-thousand-patient trials—an unrealistic goal in a rare cancer—ETHAN uses a powerful alternative approach: a pre-surgical “window of opportunity” design.

Men with newly diagnosed, operable, ER/PR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer are enrolled before any treatment begins. Participants are randomized to one of three initial endocrine strategies: tamoxifen alone, an aromatase inhibitor alone, or an aromatase inhibitor combined with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) suppression. After just three weeks of therapy, a research biopsy is performed.

“The advantage of this design,” Dr. Leone explains, “is that we don’t have to guess. We can actually see what the tumor is doing.”

Following this window phase, patients continue endocrine therapy—with or without the addition of the CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib—before proceeding to surgery. This two-by-two structure allows the study to answer several critical questions simultaneously: which endocrine backbone works best, whether CDK4/6 inhibition adds benefit, and which combinations make the most sense for men.

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Measuring What Matters Most

ETHAN’s dual primary endpoints reflect its dual mission. The first is reduction in Ki-67, a marker of tumor proliferation, measured between diagnosis and the research biopsy. The second is the Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) index, assessed at surgery to quantify how much tumor remains after treatment.

“These aren’t redundant measures,” Dr. Leone emphasizes. “They tell us different things at different moments.”

Ki-67 captures early biological response—how aggressively the cancer slows when therapy begins. RCB reflects cumulative effect, translating treatment response into surgical reality.

Secondary endpoints broaden the lens further. Hormone levels, including estradiol and testosterone, are tracked to understand how each therapy reshapes male physiology. Safety, feasibility, and quality of life are monitored throughout, recognizing that effectiveness without tolerability is not a true solution.

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A Translational Engine, Not Just a Clinical Trial

ETHAN is also notable for its depth of biological exploration. Tissue from diagnostic biopsies, window biopsies, and surgical specimens is collected alongside serial blood samples. Through collaborations with national research leaders, the study examines tumor genomics, germline mutations, circulating tumor DNA, and mechanisms of tumor cell death.

One focus is apoptosis—the programmed death of cancer cells—which may differ among CDK4/6 inhibitors. “There’s a hypothesis that abemaciclib may induce more tumor cell death than other agents,” Dr. Leone notes. “Believe it or not, this hasn’t been definitively studied even in women.”

The trial also seeks to identify endocrine response signatures—genetic patterns that predict which tumors will respond best to specific therapies. While women benefit from tools like Oncotype DX, no equivalent exists for men. ETHAN aims to change that.

“This is about understanding why endocrine therapy works beautifully in some men and not in others,” Dr. Leone says. “Once we understand that, everything changes.”

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The Human Cost of Having Only One Option

Beyond efficacy, ETHAN confronts a hard truth: men often struggle to complete endocrine therapy. European studies suggest that only 40–50% of men finish five years of tamoxifen, compared with roughly 70% of women completing endocrine therapy overall.

Tamoxifen’s side-effect profile can be particularly challenging for men, including elevated blood-clot risk, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and muscle pain. “If you only have one option,” Dr. Leone explains, “and that option causes significant side effects, the likelihood of stopping early is high.”

Aromatase inhibitors offer a different experience for men. With testosterone levels preserved, risks such as osteoporosis are minimal, and hot flashes are uncommon. “Even if these drugs work equally well,” he adds, “having another option is a huge win—for adherence, for quality of life, and for peace of mind.”

ETHAN allows clinicians to observe not only tumor response, but how men tolerate each approach—information that directly informs post-surgical treatment decisions.

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Momentum, Collaboration, and Urgency

Enrollment in ETHAN is ongoing across major academic centers in the United States, with additional sites opening to expand geographic access. Progress has been steady, though slower than initially hoped—a reality Dr. Leone acknowledges candidly.

“This is still a success,” he says. “Eighteen men enrolled in a male-specific breast cancer trial is not trivial. But the community needs answers, and we want to get there as fast as possible.”

The trial’s momentum reflects extraordinary collaboration among academic institutions, patient advocates, and national organizations. Support from the male breast cancer advocacy community has been instrumental in expanding access and awareness.

“This work doesn’t happen in isolation,” Dr. Leone emphasizes. “It happens because patients, advocates, and researchers align around a shared goal.”

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A Turning Point in Male Breast Cancer Care

ETHAN is not simply a study of drugs—it is a statement. It challenges the notion that men must accept hand-me-down standards of care. It insists that evidence matters, even in rare diseases. And it demonstrates that with thoughtful design, small trials can answer big questions.

“If all we learn is that these therapies work just as well as tamoxifen,” Dr. Jose Pablo Leone reflects, “that alone changes everything.”

For men facing a diagnosis that has long lived in the shadows of breast cancer research, ETHAN represents something profoundly overdue: clarity, choice, and progress grounded in evidence rather than assumption.

The Silent Statistics: "What is the Right Age for Breast Cancer?"

How the MBCGA is Rewriting the Truth    about MALE BREAST CANCER

A Visionary Leader Challenges a Broken Narrative

For more than a decade, the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance (MBCGA) has stood as one of the world’s strongest voices for men with breast cancer. At its helm is founder Cheri Ambrose, a relentless advocate determined to dismantle misconceptions, uplift survivors, advance research, and force the global medical community to face an uncomfortable truth: male breast cancer does not belong to any one age group—it happens to men of all ages.

This message is not merely a statistic for Ambrose; it is the heart of her mission. For years, she has collected stories, data, and images from men around the world—many diagnosed decades younger than the age ranges cited on major medical websites. As she explains, the public narrative is dangerously incomplete.

“The statistics… show that breast cancer in men is usually detected between ages 60 and 70,” she said. “But what they’re missing is that younger men are being diagnosed too.” 

In her latest project with the MBCGA, Ambrose has launched a sweeping awareness initiative using portraits of male survivors displaying their ages at diagnosis—powerful visual testimony revealing that the disease is striking far earlier, far more often, and for far more reasons than widely believed.

A Project Born From Urgency—and Truth

Ambrose’s project began with a simple question: How many men were diagnosed under the age of 60? She already knew several—but when she publicly asked for submissions, the response was overwhelming.

“I felt it was important to highlight the younger ages of the men that are being diagnosed,” she explained. “The numbers show their age at diagnosis because there’s a lot being said about younger women being diagnosed these days. What they’re missing is that cancer is hitting younger individuals, not just women.” 

Her own database, spanning 15 years, places the average age of diagnosis between 35 and 50—far younger than the public assumes. These men represent a spectrum of backgrounds, geographies, lifestyles, and professions. Their one shared thread: none of them saw it coming.

This is exactly why Ambrose created the photo series. She wanted the world to see what the data hides: a 35-year-old with breast cancer. A 40-year-old. A 47-year-old. A Marine. A railroad worker. A firefighter. A father. A son. A man who never thought breast cancer was even biologically possible.

Predisposition, Environment, and Exposure: Why These Cases Matter

When asked what might explain the rising number of younger male diagnoses, Ambrose does not claim certainty—but she speaks from years of listening, observing patterns, and studying survivor histories.

Her perspective is both grounded and expansive:

“I think there’s genetics that are unchecked—people aren’t getting genetic testing,” she said. “Because of the environment and all the pollutants in the air… and the additives in food… it’s all affecting people and disrupting them internally. I think that’s what’s causing these cancers.” 

She also recognizes that occupational exposures play a critical and under-investigated role:
• Railroad workers
• Military veterans exposed to toxic environments such as Camp Lejeune
• Firefighters facing carcinogens on every call
• Industrial workers inhaling airborne toxins
• First responders surrounded by burn-off chemicals

“We’ve got younger men becoming firefighters, and they’re faced daily with toxins burning around them,” she explained. “Even though they’re masked up… when they take that mask off, those toxins are flying around in the air. I think that’s causing some of the issues.” 

Ambrose’s insights point toward something the world of oncology is only beginning to confront: male breast cancer is a multifactorial disease driven by predisposition, exposures, environment, culture, and silence.

The Culture of Silence: A Generational Blind Spot

Perhaps the most tragic barrier is cultural. Men are conditioned to “tough it out,” ignore lumps, and assume chest changes are harmless. Ambrose describes the generational silence that still persists: “Years ago, when people had cancer, it was hush-hush. No one talked about it… And unfortunately, that carries on today in the male population. They’re told to be strong and not show weakness, and therefore they dismiss a lot of things.” 

Even more devastating is the familial blind spot: “With breast cancer, the mindset has always been: women. People worry about their daughters. There has never been a focus on worrying about your children—including your sons.” 

This leads countless men to discover lumps months or years later—sometimes too late.

A Visionary Crusader for Global Change

Cheri Ambrose stands at a pivotal moment in the evolution of breast cancer advocacy. Her conviction is reshaping international understanding. Her work unearths overlooked truths and elevates the stories of men who were never supposed to have this disease. Her goal is not modest—it is cultural transformation. She wants: 

• A new public narrative that includes men in screening conversations
• Research agendas that investigate environmental and occupational triggers
• Genetic testing protocols that consider sons as well as daughters
• Earlier detection through awareness, not stigma
• A global voice powerful enough to break 100 years of medical oversight

This project—using visual storytelling to expose the real ages of diagnosis—is just one chapter in her movement. But it is bold, disruptive, and deeply human.

Conclusion: Rewriting the Future of Male Breast Cancer

The MBCGA’s new initiative is more than an awareness campaign—it is a recalibration of truth. It is a call to the scientific community, to public health leaders, and to families to re-examine everything they think they know about breast cancer.

Cheri Ambrose’s message is profoundly clear: "Male breast cancer does not discriminate by age. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, for reasons far more complex than genetics alone."

Through vision, courage, and relentless advocacy, she is pushing the world toward a future where men are not invisible, where exposures are investigated, where genetics are better understood, and where early detection is a universal expectation—not a miracle.

This project marks a turning point. And Cheri Ambrose, once again, stands at the front of the movement—lifting the voices of men who for far too long had none.

 PART 2

A Clinical Perspective on Ageism, Bias and the Urgency of Getting Checked
By: Dr. Robert Bard

Cheri Ambrose’s groundbreaking project shines a long-overdue light on a truth the medical community can no longer afford to overlook: male breast cancer affects men of every age, every background, and every corner of the world. As a clinician who has evaluated thousands of patients and followed countless survivors over decades, I applaud this initiative for cutting through one of the most harmful misconceptions in cancer care—age bias.

For too long, public and even clinical narratives have suggested that breast cancer in men occurs “later in life,” most often between ages 60 and 70. This oversimplification has created a quiet but dangerous ripple effect: younger men have been conditioned to believe they are not at risk. Many dismiss early symptoms. Many assume a lump is an injury from sports or work. And many delay getting evaluated until the disease has advanced.

Cheri Ambrose’s work corrects the record with powerful evidence. Her database of male survivors, spanning 44 countries—including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, India, Brazil, Germany, and beyond—proves that this disease respects no borders and no birthdays. Men diagnosed in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are not rare exceptions; they are a visible, measurable part of the global breast cancer community.

This is why Ambrose’s collection of survivor portraits is so essential: it dismantles the old narrative and replaces it with a truthful, human one. Each face, each number, each story becomes its own diagnostic alert—reminding us that cancer does not read statistics before it chooses a host.

From my perspective, the most important clinical takeaway is simple:
Getting checked is—and always will be—the most powerful tool for early detection and prevention. Age should never determine whether someone “qualifies” to seek medical evaluation. Symptoms should never be ignored because a patient feels “too young.” And no man should assume immunity based on a statistic that never reflected real-world cases to begin with.

What Cheri has illuminated is not only a global problem—it is a global responsibility. When men from dozens of countries present with the same diagnosis at younger ages, we must confront the broader conversation: environmental exposures, occupational toxins, and familial predispositions intersect in ways we do not yet fully understand. The data Ambrose has curated invites and demands deeper scientific inquiry.

I commend this project for elevating men’s voices, challenging outdated assumptions, and giving the world an accurate, unfiltered view of male breast cancer. It is visionary work, and it represents the future of cancer advocacy: informed, inclusive, international, and unafraid to confront the truths that save lives.

The call to action is clear—if you feel something, check it. If you’re unsure, get evaluated. And regardless of age, always take your health seriously.

PSA: BECOME AN AMBASSADOR of the MBC Global Alliance

Join a Worldwide Movement to Advance Male Breast Cancer Awareness

The Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance (MBCGA) invites compassionate, mission-driven individuals to become Global Ambassadors—leaders who bring hope, education, visibility, and advocacy to communities across the world. Our Ambassadorship Program is an international initiative designed to empower volunteers to strengthen awareness of male breast cancer (MBC) and support all those impacted by this rare but deeply misunderstood disease.

Today, our network has a presence in 44 countries, reaching survivors, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy groups. Yet our mission remains urgent and unfinished. Male breast cancer continues to be overlooked, misdiagnosed, and stigmatized. Saving lives demands global solidarity, relentless outreach, and powerful voices willing to stand with men everywhere who face this disease—often in silence.

We want you to be part of this movement!

WHY BECOME AN AMBASSADOR?

1. You Become a Beacon of Education and Visibility in Your Community - Most men do not know they can get breast cancer—until it happens. As an Ambassador, you help dismantle stigma, correct misinformation, and provide life-saving knowledge to individuals and communities who may otherwise never hear it. Your outreach amplifies early detection, encourages self-advocacy, and inspires informed conversations with healthcare teams.

2. You Advance Advocacy, Research, and Clinical Awareness: From policy discussions to medical education efforts, Ambassadors help shape the future of male breast cancer care. Your involvement enhances partnerships with cancer centers, medical schools, nonprofit organizations, and international leaders dedicated to improving detection, treatment, and survivorship outcomes.

3. You Support a Global Network of Survivors and Families: Ambassadors help bridge nations, cultures, medical systems, and survivor communities. You will be part of a worldwide coalition that shares stories, offers support, highlights international disparities, and helps men everywhere feel seen, understood, and valued.

4. You Serve on Your Own Terms—Where You Are Needed Most: This program welcomes individuals of all backgrounds—survivors, family members, clinicians, researchers, students, community leaders, and passionate advocates. Whether your strength is communication, social media, public speaking, networking, or simply offering encouragement, there is a vital place for you.

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WHAT AMBASSADORS DO

While every Ambassador’s contribution is unique, typical roles include:

• Community outreach within local, regional, or national networks

• Educational engagement, including sharing resources, facts, and awareness materials

• Supporting survivors and caregivers by connecting them with global resources

• Promoting events, webinars, and campaigns through social or professional channels

• Collaborating with clinicians and institutions to expand awareness of MBC

• Representing the Alliance at conferences, support groups, meetings, or online forums

• Helping build bridges between nations, amplifying awareness where it is urgently needed

No medical background is required—only dedication, professionalism, and heart.

THE VALUE OF YOUR VOICE

Male breast cancer advocacy has historically been fragmented and underrepresented. By joining our Ambassadorship Program, you help:

• Break the silence that keeps men undiagnosed

• Elevate survivor stories that deserve to be heard

• Expand global health literacy

• Improve cross-border communication among advocates and professionals

• Strengthen the Alliance’s mission to provide evidence-based education and timely resources

• Build a unified international movement that saves lives

Every Ambassador contributes to a rising global chorus of awareness—one that reaches rural villages, major cities, military bases, church communities, cancer clinics, academic institutions, and online networks in every region of the world.

JOIN US—Become a Global Ambassador Today

Becoming an Ambassador of the MBC Global Alliance means becoming part of a historic movement to change the narrative for men everywhere. It means lending your voice to a mission that protects families, honors survivors, accelerates research, and uplifts a cause long overdue for global attention. If you believe in advocacy, compassion, education, service, and international unity, we welcome you.

To Apply: Email a brief introduction, your background or interests, and how you'd like to contribute.

Contact: Cheri@mbcglobalalliance.org

Together, we rise—as educators, advocates, and ambassadors for a world where no man faces breast cancer alone.

 DIRECT FROM THE FIELD

MEET MIKE PARTAIN: WHERE ADVOCACY AND VIGILANCE  MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Mike Partain, 57, has lived his adult life at the intersection of science, suffering, and advocacy. Born at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina in 1968, he was among the tens of thousands of infants conceived, carried, and delivered in an environment later proven to be saturated with toxic chemicals— trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride. Decades later, at just 39, Partain was diagnosed with male breast cancer—a disease so rare that it affects fewer than 0.05 percent of men without hereditary risk factors. With no family history and negative BRCA 1 and 2 tests, he began asking the same question that still drives his mission today: what poisoned us—and why did it take so long to tell the truth?

Camp Lejeune: A Betrayal in the Water
Between 1953 and 1987, the drinking-water supply at Camp Lejeune was heavily contaminated with carcinogenic solvents that leaked from underground fuel tanks and industrial waste sites. Internal Marine Corps documents later revealed that base officials were alerted to the contamination but downplayed the risk. “From 1980 to 1987, the Marine Corps knowingly poisoned their own people,” Partain has testified. An estimated one million Marines, their families, and civilian workers were exposed.

What began as a health mystery became a lifetime crusade. In 1997, public-health assessments quietly acknowledged contamination; by 2012, after years of grassroots pressure, limited VA healthcare was finally extended to affected families. A full decade later, in 2022, Congress passed legislation allowing victims to sue the federal government. Yet progress has been agonizingly slow. “There are more than 410,000 claims filed,” Partain explains. “In three years, the government has settled about 830. Justice is being delayed as our community dies off from age and cancer.”

Always Faithful—and Still Fighting
Partain’s story was chronicled in the Emmy-nominated documentary Semper Fi: Always Faithful, where his collaboration with fellow Marine Jerry Ensminger exposed the government’s failure to act. A historian by training and a former teacher by profession, Partain turned his research skills into weapons of accountability. He compiled a 50-page, document-linked timeline on The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten—a database that became the evidentiary backbone for congressional hearings. Twice he has testified before Congress, and twice he has walked the halls of the White House pressing for scientific integrity and survivor rights. “We fought this scientifically,” he says. “Facts and documents were the only way anyone listened. It wasn’t emotion that changed policy—it was proof.”

2025- A Second Battle: The PACT Act Rollback
Now Partain is confronting a new and equally troubling chapter. The PACT Act—landmark legislation intended to expand healthcare and compensation for veterans exposed to toxins while serving overseas —initially recognized male breast cancer as a presumptive condition linked to chemical exposure. Recently, however, the Department of Veterans Affairs quietly rescinded that presumption while leaving female breast cancer a presumptive service connected disease.

“The VA is playing gender politics,” Partain warns. “They’re claiming that male breast tissue isn’t reproductive, so male breast cancer doesn’t qualify is disingenuous. Science doesn’t back that. Male and female breast tissue share the same structure. The only difference is hormones.” To him, the rollback is “an opening salvo in reducing veterans’ benefits”—a bureaucratic maneuver that abandons men who served, from Vietnam through the Gulf War, all of whom encountered many of the same toxins that devastated Camp Lejeune.

Connecting the Dots: From Toxins to Health Crises
Partain’s own life underscores the long tail of exposure. Even as a child he suffered liver problems—common among Lejeune families. His advocacy now expands beyond cancer to the full spectrum of toxic-related illness: bladder and kidney cancers, leukemias, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Parkinson’s disease, and neurological disorders. He often calls male breast cancer “the canary in the coal mine”—a rare and alarming sign of environmental breakdown that foreshadows broader public-health disaster. “If we accept cancer as a way of life,” he says, “then we’ve lost our future.”

Building Alliances and Gathering Data
Today Partain collaborates with scientists, physicians, and advocacy groups to advance non-invasive diagnostic research. He recently partnered with Dr. Robert L. Bard, a diagnostic-imaging specialist and medical advisor to the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance (MBCGA). Together they are exploring advanced ultrasound and OligoScan technologies that measure heavy-metal and neurotoxin residues within body tissue—data that could help connect environmental exposure to physiological damage long after blood tests show “normal.”

For Partain, that kind of evidence could reshape the national conversation. “If we can document ongoing contamination in living tissue, we can prove what exposure really does,” he insists. “The government responds to data, not pain.”

Reflections on the PACT Act and the Duty to Protect Our Own The PACT Act—formally known as the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act—was enacted as a long-overdue recognition of the invisible injuries endured by those who served. It expands healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances such as Agent Orange, radiation, and the notorious burn pits used in recent conflicts. Most importantly, it establishes more than twenty new presumptive conditions—which means that veterans no longer have to bear the impossible burden of proving that their illness was caused by military service. For anyone who has fought a war only to later battle for recognition of their suffering, this law represents a measure of long-denied justice. It also introduces mandatory toxic exposure screenings for all enrolled veterans, ensuring that the VA can identify health issues earlier and connect individuals with vital resources. Having served as a U.S. Army field physician in Thailand during the Vietnam era, I personally witnessed the widespread use of herbicides like Agent Orange and the resulting environmental devastation. Few could comprehend at the time that these exposures would linger for generations—silently seeding cancers, endocrine disorders, and neurological diseases among our own ranks. The soldiers who returned home were told little about what they had been breathing or touching. Many developed strange symptoms decades later, only to be dismissed or left to navigate a bureaucratic maze. For those of us who saw these chemicals used firsthand, the eventual acknowledgment through the PACT Act felt like an affirmation that our nation had finally chosen to confront its own complicity in toxic harm. Laws like the PACT Act are not merely policy; they are moral obligations. Our service members entrust their bodies and futures to the government they defend. When they are injured by exposures—whether to Agent Orange in Vietnam or burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan—it is unconscionable to deny them the care they have earned. Burn pits, often filled with plastics, metals, and medical waste, created toxic clouds that enveloped bases for years. Many soldiers returned with respiratory illnesses, autoimmune diseases, and rare cancers linked to these inhaled poisons. To hear of any rollback or resistance to the PACT Act today is unconscionable. It betrays the very principles of duty and honor that define military service. Our responsibility to those who served does not end when the war is over—it begins the moment they return home, still fighting unseen battles within their own bodies. Dr. Robert L. Bard, MD, DABR, FAIUM, FASLMS BardDiagnostics / MBCScan.org

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Grassroots without the Noise
Over 18 years of advocacy, Partain has learned that movements survive on credibility. “We never took donations, never incorporated,” he explains. “Our integrity was everything.” He is wary of self-styled saviors and splinter groups that exploit tragedy for attention. “There have been hijackers who twist the story. We fought not just the Marine Corps, but misinformation inside our own ranks. The only thing that ever worked was truth, verified by documents.”

His network today includes survivors’ families, attorneys, and medical experts. Through his Camp Lejeune Toxic Water Survivors group—20,000 members strong on social media—he continues to collect testimonies, organize information, and connect victims with legal and medical resources. “This isn’t just about the Marines,” he reminds audiences. “It’s about their wives, their children, and even grandchildren who carry genetic and epigenetic burdens from these toxins.”

Legislation in Limbo
Partain is equally vocal about stalled legislation. Two bills—one in the House, one in the Senate—aim to accelerate Camp Lejeune claim settlements and strengthen government accountability. “Right now, they’re stuck in committee,” he says, referencing Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan in the House and Senators Mike Lee and Dan Sullivan in the Senate. “Without public pressure, these bills will die there. We need outrage to move Congress.”

He quotes one federal judge who joked grimly that “this litigation will outlast the Roman Empire.” To Partain, that remark captures the federal government’s foot-dragging. “Every month of delay means more funerals,” he says. “Justice deferred is justice denied.”

Beyond Camp Lejeune: A National Exposure Crisis
While his roots are in Lejeune, Partain now sees a national pattern: toxic exposures at Kelly Air Force Base, Pease Air Force Base, and Fort Hood, among others, have left similar health legacies. He has begun collaborating with Rosie Torres, founder of Burn Pits 360, to unite domestic and foreign exposure communities. Their shared goal: a single framework that recognizes chemical and environmental injury—no matter where service occurred. “The burn-pit fight opened the door,” Partain says. “Now we must walk through it for every American base.”

The Advocate’s Creed
Despite his candor, Partain speaks with restraint born of experience. “We’re fighting an institution built on honor and integrity. You can’t just yell; you have to out-prove them.” His weapon remains research. His fuel is outrage tempered by purpose. “Complaining is one part,” he says. “Doing something about it is the second.”

He calls on physicians, veterans, and citizens alike to re-frame the narrative. “Stop talking just about cancer—talk about exposure. Exposure is the root. Cancer is the symptom.”

A Legacy of Accountability
Eighteen years after his diagnosis, Mike Partain remains cancer-free. Yet his fight continues—for himself, for his children, and for the thousands who never got their day in court. “This isn’t about revenge,” he says softly. “It’s about recognition. The government owes its people the truth.”

From congressional halls to grassroots forums, his message never wavers: Honor begins with accountability. And until every poisoned Marine, spouse, and child is heard, Mike Partain will keep changing the wallpaper—seizing each moment, and making sure it leads to change.

  Part 2

Endocrine Lessons from Camp Lejeune By Dr. Angela Mazza, DO, ABAARM, FAAMFM, ECNU, CDE Mike Partain’s story stays with me. His courage, his persistence, and his refusal to let silence bury truth are nothing short of extraordinary. When you listen to him speak about being born into exposure—conceived and carried in the poisoned water of Camp Lejeune—you don’t just hear a survivor. You hear the living proof of what environmental neglect can do to a human body and a human spirit. As a physician who studies the intricate dialogue between hormones, toxins, and resilience, I see Camp Lejeune as more than a tragic chapter in military history. It is a physiological case study of what happens when toxicants infiltrate the endocrine network that governs nearly every function of life—growth, energy, reproduction, emotion, and adaptation. It also illustrates how exposures decades ago can echo across generations through inherited biochemical vulnerability. The Hormone-Toxin Connection Many of the chemicals found in the Lejeune water—trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl chloride—are endocrine disruptors. They interfere with the body’s ability to maintain hormonal balance, often in subtle, cumulative ways. These compounds can block thyroid hormone conversion, suppress pituitary signaling, or mimic estrogen, leading to cellular confusion that fosters inflammation and carcinogenesis. Patients exposed to these substances frequently show patterns that mirror endocrine disease: Hypothyroidism or thyroid autoimmunity, as the thyroid gland is highly sensitive to halogenated solvents. Cortisol dysregulation, where the adrenal stress axis becomes erratic, creating fatigue, anxiety, or metabolic instability. Insulin resistance and early diabetes, driven by mitochondrial injury and oxidative stress that impair glucose handling. Reproductive and breast disorders, in both men and women, arising from altered estrogen and prolactin signaling. When I read toxicology reports from Lejeune and other exposure sites, I see laboratory numbers that resemble endocrine case files—abnormal T3 conversion, disrupted cortisol curves, insulin spikes without dietary cause. The overlap is unmistakable. A Human Mirror for a Systemic Problem Mike’s diagnosis of male breast cancer underscores how toxins disregard gender lines. Our biological systems are far more unified than administrative categories suggest. The recent VA rollback that excludes male breast cancer from “reproductive” presumptive conditions reflects a misunderstanding of basic endocrinology. Male and female breast tissue share the same receptor networks for estrogen, progesterone, and growth factors. When environmental xenoestrogens enter that system, they bind indiscriminately. Disease follows biology, not bureaucracy. This is why his advocacy matters. He is not only fighting for veterans’ benefits—he is challenging a broken framework that separates exposure from outcome, hormone from environment, data from humanity. Every time he testifies, he brings science and empathy into the same conversation. That union is precisely what medicine needs. Endocrinology Beyond the Lab In integrative endocrinology, we no longer look at hormones as isolated messengers. They are translators of environment. Heavy metals and solvents can suppress liver enzymes that convert T4 to T3 or metabolize cortisol. Nutrient depletion—selenium, zinc, glutathione—further weakens detoxification pathways. Over time, the body’s adaptive resilience collapses, leaving behind the chronic fatigue, weight changes, immune decline, and cognitive fog so many Lejeune survivors describe. Restoring that balance requires more than medication. It calls for a systems-based approach: Identifying toxic burdens through validated tests that examine tissue, not just blood. Supporting detoxification with antioxidant nutrients, sauna therapy, and liver-protective protocols. Balancing hormones through evidence-based replacement, adrenal support, and thyroid optimization. Tracking recovery using imaging, metabolic markers, and ongoing environmental vigilance. This holistic method mirrors what we strive to build through programs like ThyroidScan™ and our toxin-related health initiatives—bridging diagnostic precision with preventive endocrinology. A Call to Integrate Science and Compassion Mike Partain reminds us that advocacy is a clinical act. When a survivor stands before Congress armed with facts and empathy, he performs a kind of healing on behalf of all who were unheard. His voice forces science to confront consequence. For clinicians like me, Camp Lejeune is a cautionary tale—but also a blueprint for action. We must expand screening for toxin-induced endocrine disorders, educate practitioners about environmental hormones, and demand policies rooted in biology, not semantics. Every data point represents a life. Every policy reversal carries a physiological cost. As I reflect on Mike’s journey, I feel both sorrow and determination. The sorrow comes from knowing how preventable much of this suffering was. The determination comes from realizing that awareness is itself a form of medicine. If we can illuminate the endocrine pathways of exposure—how toxins hijack our hormonal resilience—we can begin to reverse more than illness. We can restore integrity to the systems that were meant to protect us.  Angela Mazza, DO, ABAARM, FAAMFM, ECNU, CDE is an integrative endocrinologist specializing in hormone balance, metabolic health, and environmental medicine. She is founder of Metabolic Center for Wellness and co-developer of the ThyroidScan™ educational program.