b.c. man goes public in search for help in fighting breast cancer
b.c. cancer is running out of treatment options for man with breast cancer
3 minute read
michael heaven with daughter marissa heaven in north vancouver. michael heaven, 61, has been diagnosed with an rare and aggressive form of breast cancer is fighting for survival,. he and daughter marissa heaven are raising money for alternative treatments that could save his life. photo by arlen redekop / vancouver sun / the province (png) (story by denise ryan) [png merlin archive]
arlen redekop
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by: denise ryan
in march, 2020, as the world was locking down and going into quarantine, one north vancouver family received shattering news: a cancer diagnosis that seemed impossible, and impossibly unfair.
michael heaven, 61, was first diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in 2016.
he had a mastectomy, endured 18 months of chemo and radiation, and was thought to be in remission. but in march came aches and pains, and the dreaded news: the cancer had metastasized to his spine, lungs, liver and lymph nodes.
“it’s been a nightmare,” said his daughter marissa heaven, a secondary school teacher.
after fighting the battle privately for years, the family is going public, hoping to raise funds for targeted treatments and gene therapy not available in canada that could save his life, and advance understanding of the disease for others.
“we need better detection and a cure,” said marissa.
when heaven, an electrical engineer and father to three daughters, felt the lump on the left side of his chest in 2016, breast cancer didn’t even cross his mind.
“i pulled muscles in my chest all the time and i expected it to be a fibroid, a ‘male’ problem,” said heaven.
but breast cancer is also a men’s disease.
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approximately 220 men across canada are diagnosed with the breast cancer annually. although men account for less than one per cent of all breast cancer diagnoses, studies show the incidence of male breast cancer has risen 20-25 per cent in recent decades. the reasons for the increase are unknown. and, according to a study published in jama oncology, mortality rates are higher among men than women, perhaps because most breast cancer research and treatments focus on women.
the father of singer-songwriter beyoncé, mathew knowles, is a survivor of men’s breast cancer, and a vocal advocate for testing and research.
heaven lauds his medical team here in b.c., who he says done everything they can, and supported him every step of the way. but in january, tests showed that heaven’s tumours were becoming resistant to the chemo.
marissa said, “my dad has an amazing team at the b.c. cancer agency, and they’ve been just incredible, but they are running out of options for us.”
the family has started a go fund me. going public was the last thing the family wanted to do, said marissa, but the family needs support to access further treatments. “we feel exposed, and scared, but we’ve realized everyone is on our side, and are giving what they can even though so many are struggling right now due to the pandemic.”
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after years of fighting his battle his private, heaven said the support for their fundraiser, and the personal messages have been deeply meaningful. “i have been feeling so much warmth and an outpouring of love,” said heaven.
“our dad has always been our world, the rock of our family,” said marissa. “he was there for every dance performance, and for friday night dance parties in the living room; he taught us to value education, have self respect and to set goals and pursue them.”
now the goal is laser-focused.
“i have to save my dad,” said marissa. she and her sisters laura and jessica, and their mother roberta all wear a bracelet with the word strength written in morse code.
despite experiencing fatigue, nausea, tightness of breath, and other chemo side effects, heaven’s spirit is unwavering.
heaven said he feels excited about the targeted therapies that could be available to him elsewhere. “i’m bullish that this is going to work. i have to be.”
he also hopes that sharing his story will help build a greater understanding of men with breast cancer — but his voice wavers when he talks about his family: “every precious moment matters: whether you are just sitting together on a log, or sharing christmas. these are very simple wishes, time with family, love, and gratitude.”
