Men are not immune to breast cancer. In fact, about 2,000 men will be diagnosed with it in the next year.

Jack Willis, breast cancer survivor and former OU journalism instructor, spoke to a small group of students about his personal experience in battling cancer and the reality that men can also get breast cancer on Wednesday afternoon in the OU Traditions Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

Willis, a former Daily faculty adviser, said young people have a tendency to ignore the reality that they are susceptible to major illnesses like cancer.

“I think they don’t realize they can get cancer, and they can get breast cancer,” Willis said.

According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 180,000 women and almost 2,000 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. About 40,500 women and 450 men died from the cancer in the past year.

Event organizer Heather Anderson, public relations senior, said Willis’ personal experience helped drive home the seriousness of breast cancer.

“Not many people, especially young people, really want to talk much about cancer, and men especially don’t want to talk about breast cancer or the fact that they can get it,” she said. “I think Willis’ experience can help open their eyes to the possibility that they can get it.”

Willis’ discussion with students was sponsored by the Women’s Outreach Center as part of men’s breast cancer awareness month in April.

Willis, who was diagnosed in 2005, shared stories from his book “Saving Jack,” which he wrote during his battle with cancer. Willis said the book began as a journal he would write in daily as a way to cope with his illness.

One of the most difficult trials of treating breast cancer is going though chemotherapy, he said. But it was not just the physical ailments that Willis struggled with.

“Chemotherapy puts you down in the dumps,” Willis said. “It’s not just a pain thing; it’s how it makes you feel.”

Willis said even though he only missed three days of work during his chemotherapy treatment, he struggled emotionally every day.

There is a real lack of support for men who suffer from breast cancer, he said. He said although men may attend support groups set up for women suffering from breast cancer, there are no groups specifically for men who are diagnosed.

Despite the sparse support for men, Willis said he found strength and encouragement from his family and students. They are the ones who made the treatment bearable, he said.

“I was extremely fortunate,” Willis said. “And I thank God every day.”