By Thelma D. Jones
Michael “Mike” Goodman is not only spreading community news in his leadership capacity as Editor-in-Chief of “The Southwester” but has also joined the fight against breast cancer as an American Cancer Society (ACS) Real Men Wear Pink advocate. Goodman was nominated for this honor, to help raise awareness and funds in support of cancer research and local patient programs, wearing pink every day during October to spread awareness of the cause.
Southwest’s own Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund (TDJBCF) proudly nominated Mike Goodman who enthusiastically answered the call. In accepting the honor, Goodman stated: “Breast cancer affects everyone—it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. That’s why I’m stepping up to fight breast cancer with all I have. In my position as the Editor-in-Chief of our local newspaper, The Southwester, I’m working to bring awareness of the issue and link patients to our great cancer care organizations in Washington, DC such as ACS and the TDJBCF.”
Thelma D. Jones, founder of the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund, noted: “As a Real Men, Goodman has tapped into the power of pink and needs your help. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month behind us, there’s no time to rest on our laurels, as cancer never takes a break. Now is a good time to support Goodman’s Real Men campaign goal by Dec. 30, 2019.”
To donate to Goodman’s Real Men campaign, please visit https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR/?fr_id=94114&pg=personal&px=51564118, or you may mail your check to Real Men Wear Pink of The National Capital Area 51564118, Attn: Real Men Wear Pink of The National Capital Area, 124 Park Street, SE, Suite 100, Vienna, VA 22180. Any amount, big or small, is welcomed and appreciated.
Goodman, an eight-year SW resident, assumed the position of Editor-in-Chief of The Southwester after having served as the copy editor. He is an advocate for funding at DC Public Schools, and previously volunteered at the National Zoo. Mike is a proud Amidon-Bowen Elementary School parent and works as a government affairs consultant in Southwest. He lives in Carrollsburg Square with his wife Allison and daughter Ella and is also lucky to have his mother Susan in the neighborhood. Goodman also carried his Real Men advocacy before the October TDJBCF support group meeting where he was well received.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that for 2019 about 2,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men and about 500 men will die from breast cancer. Breast cancer is about 100 times less common among white men than among white women. It is about 70 times less common among black men than black women. Like black women, black men with breast cancer tend to have a worse prognosis (outlook). For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 833. For women, it is 1 in 8. For questions regarding the ACS Real Men Wear Pink campaign, please email Kelly Skahan at kelly.skahan@cancer.org.