by Juan Soto
Sebastian Aloi was in shock when he was diagnosed with breast cancer. He had no symptoms.
“I didn’t even know men could get breast cancer,” the 71-year-old Nassau resident said.
Breast cancer is a very rare disease in men.
According to statistics from the American Cancer Association, less than 1 percent of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in men. In 2014, about 2,360 males will have the disease, compared to 232,670 women.
In March, 2009, doctors at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. found spots in his bladder. Immediately after, and because of his family history, he underwent a mammogram. It came back negative.
Doctors insisted on more testing. He was scheduled for a biopsy.
“Sure enough, the results came back positive with breast cancer,” said Aloi, who will turn 72 this December.
A month later, he underwent a mastectomy in one of his breasts.
“They saved my life,” said Aloi. “My mother had breast cancer. The family has a history of cancer.”
He was able to bypass chemotherapy because he was diagnosed on the early stages of the cancer.
In 2010, history repeated itself.
Aloi, who was born in Brooklyn but grew up in South Ozone Park, was back under the knife at Winthrop-University Hospital, in Nassau.
“It was the same routine and ended with a mastectomy in the other breast,” he said.
If breast cancer in male is rare, double breast cancer is even rarer.
Winthrop Hospital has a multidisciplinary team of certified physicians who provide full treatment to patients, men and women.
The hospital’s “Breast Cancer Center is unique because it provides patients with complete access to a full range of quality services and specialists,” said Frank Monteleone, chief of the cancer division at Winthrop.
“We offer personalized care and advanced diagnostic methods and treatments to patients in the community,” said Monteleone.
Winthrop is conducting a clinical trial that uses the system CyberKnife Radiosurgery in women with breast cancer who opt for breast conservation after the removal of their tumor.
It has given new hope to many thousands of people with tumors once considered inoperable, according to Winthrop.
CyberKnife consists of five days of consecutive treatments, instead of the more traditional six-week radiation treatment.
The innovative system “has exceeded its clinical promise,” said Jonathan Haas, chief of the division of radiation oncology at Winthrop. “It was always theoretical that it would be better for breast cancer, but now we see it in practice with patients, It has exceeded our greatest expectations.”
Aloi kept his positive attitude beside undergoing the double bilateral mastectomy.
“My family was in shock,” said Aloi, who has been married to his wife Annamarie for the past 52 years and has two daughters. “You hear the word ‘cancer ‘and it seems like the end of the world, but it is very important that one stays positive.”
He said regular checkups are very important, and like in his case, can be life-savers.
“We keep fighting,” said Aloi.
Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail at jsoto@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
