Kathy Giller’s husband, Lee, passed away from metastatic breast cancer. This is their story in her words. Read more about Lee’s story.
Many people still think of breast cancer as a disease that’s only detected in women, yet no one is immune. My otherwise healthy and fit husband, Lee Giller, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at the young age of 48. Like many women with a similar diagnosis, Lee underwent a mastectomy, months of chemo and radiation.
A Recurrence
Unfortunately, almost seven years later, Lee had a recurrence. The cancer had metastasized (spread) to his liver, lungs and bones. Lee was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and, for the second time of his life, he found himself fighting this disease. We knew MBC was incurable, but we were encouraged by the many treatment options that were available.
Clinical Trial Participation
Lee’s first line of treatment was participation in a clinical trial with a new type of drug called a PARP inhibitor. This trial was partially funded through a grant from Komen. The results were outstanding, and the scans at the end of the trial showed no evidence of disease. Everyone from the oncology office, from secretaries to nurses and doctors, all came in to celebrate the wonderful news with us.
The Gift of Time
This trial gave Lee a small reprieve from future treatments, but more importantly, it gave us time. When you’re told that you’re living with an incurable disease, there is no greater gift than time – time to be with the ones you love, time to create new memories and time to relish the old ones.
A Beacon of Hope
Lee passed away almost five years after his MBC diagnosis, just shy of his 60th birthday. From his initial diagnosis until this death, Lee dedicated his life to spreading the important message that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. Lee was a beacon of hope through his unwavering optimism and commitment to finding a cure.
Sharing Our Journey
PARP inhibitors have since been approved by the FDA for early and metastatic breast cancer treatment. I had the privilege to meet the scientist responsible for developing the PARP inhibitor, Dr. Alan Ashworth, who served on the Scientific Advisory Board for Komen. We both welled up with tears when we met. Dr. Ashworth explained that working in a laboratory doesn’t give him the opportunity to interact with patients, so hearing about our journey gave him a sense of the profound impact he had on our lives. The gratitude I felt was immense. Here stood the man who was responsible for giving my husband and countless others more time.
Time is Everything
It’s now almost nine years since we lost Lee. I joined the rank of breast cancer survivors, too. Thanks to Komen, my husband Lee and so many others, people are living longer with breast cancer. Time is everything.
Learn more about male breast cancer and clinical trials.
Statements and opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
