Oct 13, 2009 10:22 pm US/Eastern
Former Marine Battling Male Breast Cancer
NORTH ANDOVER (WBZ) ―
A North Andover man, who served our country for four years, is now fighting for his life, and the lives of other fellow Marines.
47-year-old Peter Devereaux found a lump on his chest in January 2008.
"I had a good sized lump. I tell people like the size of a bite sized snickers bar."
He never imagined it could be breast cancer. It was in an advanced stage, and Devereaux immediately started 14 months of treatment, including a mastectomy.
Several months after being diagnosed, Devereaux received a letter from the Marines saying that he may have come in contact with contaminated water while he was stationed at Camp LeJeune. He served there for 14 months starting in 1980.
Then he began to hear about other Marines who were diagnosed with breast cancer, and realized he was not alone. So far, 42 Marines who were at Camp LeJeune have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and that number continues to grow every week.
The Marine Corps say the water was contaminated by the
chemicals TCE and PCE, both considered poisons. According to the Marine Corps, the source was an off-base dry cleaner and on-base disposal practices. Those wells were shut down in 1985.
The Marine Corps says they have spent $14 million to fund research to determine if there is a link between the contaminated water and health problems, but have not been able to find a link.
Several of the Marines with breast cancer, testified before the US Senate last week. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Eugene G. Payne, Jr. was one of the Marines to testify.
"The most recently completed study, by the National Academies National Research Council, unfortunately concluded that it is likely that additional studies would still not produce answers regarding past exposures and adverse health effects."
Devereaux says he feels like the Marine Corps is letting him down.
"The saying in the Marines, 'Semper Fidelis,' always faithful. It doesn't seem like they're doing either one of those, being faithful or taking care of their own," he said.
"It does frustrate you, because you go in there to give whatever you can, and to see the marines turn their back and admit no fault and take no acknowledgement. It's disgusting."
Devereaux's cancer has now spread to his bones. He says he continues to fight the disease, with support from his wife Fiona, and his 11 year old daughter Jackie.
He says despite the frustrations, he is proud of his service.
"I was willing to give whatever I needed to give. If that was considered my life, that would be fine. I didn't think I'd have to give it 20 something years after I got out this way."
The Marine Corps is asking anyone who lived at Camp LeJeune before 1985 to register with them. Their toll free number is:
877-261-9782.
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