our first question might likely be – what makes Bob Moore an expert on such a major women’s health issue like breast cancer? While growing up, I sat on the sideline and painfully witnessed courageous women in my family confront and battle breast cancer diagnoses. Over the years, it has become something all of my family is sensitive to and vigilant to detect.

When breast cancer killed both my grandmothers in the early sixties and seventies, successful treatment options were limited. As I recall, their cancer diagnoses were made late, minimizing treatment options. Thankfully, education campaigns to promote early breast cancer detection have grown over the years. The potential life-saving messages encouraging women to have regular mammograms and perform monthly breast self-examinations wasn’t on the radar for my family back then, now they are.

My mother was a 14-year breast cancer survivor. During a breast self-exam in 1982, she discovered a lump. Instead of a radical mastectomy; a modified lumpectomy got the cancerous growth. Follow-up radiation and chemotherapy provided my mother a new lease on life.
In 1994 my mother’s cancer returned. It was my honor
and joy to accompany her to New York for a second diagnosis. The continuing satisfaction I live with is my mother telling me my presence and support made a difference during her journey, she died in 1996.

I have seen dramatic changes in the past 20 years. A number of women’s health issues are now on a “winning” battlefield – with a lot of individual stories of victories over lousy odds. Bottom line, when it comes to breast cancer there is a clear role for men. The first step is realizing that we as men can help by encouraging the women in our lives to perform monthly breast self-examinations. Fighting a breast cancer diagnosis is not a solo battle a woman should confront alone. From my personal experience, it’s a journey in which a lot of “unconditional” support by men is welcomed and beneficial.

Breast cancer does not have to be an automatic death sentence. The key is early detection. For me, this potentially life-saving reminder is motivated by love and concern. It boils down to asking a subtle question that does not have to be embarrassing or confrontational. It just has to be asked regularly. “Have you done your monthly breast self-examination?”
- Bob Moore, Fox 6 Anchor