Former Marines Pose For Breast Cancer Calendar}

Submitted by: Melody Swink

Former Camp LeJeune Marines Pose for Breast Cancer Calenda

13 former Marines with ties to Camp LeJeune posed for a calendar highlighting their personal struggles with breast cancer. The calendar is designed to raise awareness of mens breast cancer and to highlight the diseases environmental causes.

Men, Breast Cancer, the Environment: A Photographic Journey, was organized by Ellie Anbinder, head of the Framingham, Mass.-based breast cancer foundation Art beCause. Anbinder and Peter Devereaux of North Andover, Massachusetts, and former Camp LeJeune Marine discussed the creation of a calendar dedicated exclusively to the cluster of men who believe their breast cancer was caused by exposure to the chemical solvents and suspected carcinogens that once comtaminated the Camp Lejeune drinking water supply.

When youre a guy and you get diagnosed with breast cancer, you feel like youre the only one. Its not like you have a network to support you, Devereaux said. Its really been a quest to try to make sense of this crazy disease, to help other guys come out of their isolation, so to speak, and let them know that theres help out there.

Breast cancer in men is a serious health concern and taking a loving look at these men and their artistic efforts to tell their story, is a beautiful, bold statement. The new Breastcentric comedy show, The D-Cup Diatribes attempts to highlight with positivity and lightheartedness the growing number of men suffering from breast cancer. The number of women by far surpasses that of the male sufferers and survivors but bringing a sense of art, self-expression and compassion is at the core of this new show.

The broader statement is You Are Not Alone. The audiences attending The D-Cup Diatribes is full of breast cancer survivors, their family and friends. The playwright, Melody Swink, has garnered Raves from these women and the Breastimonials can be found at thedcupdiatribes.com

Like Miss Swink, Ellie Anbinder called a project linking the work of her foundation and the stories of these men a match made in heaven. I had never known a man who had breast cancer. Statistically, men dont get breast cancer. There are usually a thousand cases diagnosed a year, she said.

Swink is very proud to present her characters in a way that touches, enlightens and rejuvenates the spirit. Two of her characters are either facing or are recovering from mastectomies, and though the topic is not funny. Human nature and personal perspective is, however. The D-Cup Diatribes begins its Breast Cancer Awareness Month Tour on October 8th in New York with stops in Massachusetts, CT, NH and beyond Join The D-Cups in supporting The American Cancer Society and nestle in the warmth of the human stories told with wit and playfulness, and emerge with lifted spirits and hope.

For former Marine, Devereaux, the release of the calendar comes on the heels of a significant personal victory: Only weeks ago, he became one of the few veterans affected by Lejeune water contamination to receive 100-percent disability from the department of Veterans Affairs because of his exposure to the contaminated water. Heroic effort. A real D-Cups Dude.

For more information about the calendar project, visit Artbecause.com.

About the Author: A writer, author and poet, Melody Swink is an advocate for women’s issues, in particular body consciousness and breast cancer. She is committed to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is taking her “Breastcentric” comedy nationwide in October.

thedcupdiatribes.com

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