Devastated mastectomy dad’s breast cancer back
A Maidstone dad who beat breast cancer has been given the devastating news that the disease has returned for a third time.
Stuart Weaver made medical history in 2004 when he became one of the first men in the country to receive the drug Herceptin, usually only prescribed for women.
Male breast cancer is extremely rare, affecting just one in a thousand men.
Six years later, despite having a full mastectomy, it returned to his sternum. But the father-oftwo was given the all-clear for a second time after major surgery.
Now he has been told the disease has moved to his lungs and he faces yet more chemotherapy.
The 48-year-old, of Tonbridge Road, will also have to sell his family home due to being out of work for so long.
In an online post his wife Karen, who has had to give up her job as a foster parent, said: “When they first said Stuart had breast cancer he was 37, healthy and fit with no family history. The shock and fear was indescribable but the lack of practi- cal information for male sufferers was pathetic.
“Stuart has spent the last 11 years changing this. He has inspired and campaigned to highlight male breast cancer, saving lives through education and discussion, giving talks to schools and groups, run and attended many charity events, modelled at Breast Cancer Care Fashion shows, and climbed Ben Nevis and Snowdon for the charity.”
He also donated images of his mastectomy so other men would be able to see what the outcome of the operation looked like. Previously there had only been images of women.
He fought for men to have access to the breast cancer fighting drug Herceptin, previously not available to men on the NHS.
Now, in a bid to put the smile back on her husband’s face, Mrs Weaver is appealing for people to help his dream come true by buying him a Mod scooter.
She posted saying: “After his mastectomy Stuart’s childhood dream of owning a scooter grew.
“I truly think now is the time Stuart got his dream. If you could help me grant him this in any way, I would be forever grateful.” The target is £6,000.
To donate visit tinyurl.com/ weaverKM