Maidstone: Stuart Weaver who had breast cancer told disease has returned
14:00, 03 April 2017
A Maidstone dad who beat breast cancer has been given the devastating news that the disease has returned for a third time.
Stuart Weaver made medical history when he became one of the first men in the country to receive the drug Herceptin, usually only prescribed for women, after he received the unusual diagnosis in 2004.
The condition is extremely rare, affecting just one in a thousand men.
Six years later, despite having a full mastectomy, it returned to his sternum. But the father-of-two was given the all clear for a second time after major surgery to remove the bone.
Now he has been told the disease has moved to his lungs and he faces yet more chemotherapy.
The 48-year-old Tonbridge Road, will also have to sell his family home due to the financial turmoil caused by being out of work for so long.
In an online post his wife Karen, who has had to give up her job as a foster parent, said: “When they first said my husband, Stuart, had breast cancer he was 37, healthy and fit with no family history. The shock and fear was undescribable but the lack of practical information for male sufferers was pathetic.
“Stuart has spent the last 11 years changing this. Stuart has inspired and campaigned to highlight male breast cancer, saving lives through education and discussion, giving talks to schools and groups, run and attended many charity events, modelled at Breast Cancer Care Fashion shows, and climbed Ben Nevis and Snowdon for the charity.”
Mrs Weaver explained how he has also donated images of his mastectomy, so other men would be able to see what the outcome of the operation looked like. Previously there had only been images of women.
She also details how he fought for men to have access to the breast cancer fighting drug Herceptin,which was previously not available to men on the NHS.
Now, in a bid to put the smile back on her husband’s face, Mrs Weaver is appealing for people to help his dream come true - by buying him a Mod scooter.
She posted saying: “After his mastectomy Stuart’s childhood dream of owning a scooter grew.
“I truly think now is the time Stuart got his dream. If you could help me grant him this in any way, I would be forever grateful.”
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