From Misdiagnosis to Advocacy
Two years before Joe Wilson was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in 2020, he had two annual physicals. A lump on his left breast, along with a family history of breast cancer, including his mother and aunt, was cause for concern for the otherwise healthy 33-year-old middle school teacher. The doctor said he wasn’t concerned because the lump wasn’t changing size—a misdiagnosis that changed Joe’s life forever.
“I look back at it now and I wish I would’ve been more of a self-advocate and said, ‘You know what? There’s just something not right here,’” Joe said.
It wasn’t until Joe complained of severe back pain that his doctor sent him to physical therapy, a chiropractor, a spine specialist and ultimately an MRI. That’s when he learned the gravity of his situation.
Four years after his cancer diagnosis, Wilson continues to encourage others to trust what their body is telling them. The delay in Joe’s diagnosis caused the cancer to metastasize to his chest cavity, pelvis, legs, left shoulder and spine.
“You hear stage four, and you’re like, ‘Man. I’m 35 years old. I’ve got two little boys [ages six and two],’” Joe said. “It was just shocking. We had our pity party for a minute, and then it’s like, ‘Alright. What do we need to do to fight this?”
Radiation and chemotherapy have taken a toll on his body, limiting everyday activities like playing with his kids, walking the dog and standing for long periods to teach.
“I try not to let that affect me much because I don’t want my kids and my students to see me struggle,” he said. “I want to try to be as much of a positive influence for all of them as I can be.”
Joe has endured through his faith and community support, including Trinity Catholic School, where he is a math, science and health teacher. Every Wednesday, the students and staff wear bright green ‘Wilson Warriors’ t-shirts to remind Joe he’s not alone.
“Seeing that every week is absolutely amazing,” Joe said. “I wouldn’t be here without the encouragement of others, trying to remain as positive as possible and trying to be a witness for other people, too.”
His testimony is simple yet paramount: Listen to your body and get a second professional opinion. According to Komen. org, less than 1 percent of U.S. breast cancer cases occur in men, and it’s estimated that there will be 530 breast cancer deaths among men in 2024.
Wilson says he will have this disease for the rest of his life, but it won’t stop him from living the life he wants.
“My oncologist says, ‘Truthfully, as long as you do your treatments and we watch your numbers, I don’t see why you can’t live a good, long life,’” Joe said. “I’ve got goals and ideas. I want to keep going. I want to see my kids grow up, so I’m going to do that.”
I wouldn’t be here without the encouragement of others, trying to remain as positive as possible and trying to be a witness for other people, too.