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WINSTON-SALEM, NC (AP) – As an actor who debuted here at Winston-Salem, K.T. "Todd" Nelson was never afraid of the limelight and being at the center of the stage was not new to him.
But when he had his breast cancer diagnosis earlier this year, Nelson stopped and ran away. In fact, he did not tell anyone about his diagnosis until a few weeks of treatment.
"When (the doctors) told me, I still do not know if I treated it immediately," said Nelson, 34. "I had stage 2 breast cancer and started treatment the following week."
His silence was not for nothing. An avid advocate of mental health, Nelson took the time to mentally prepare himself.
"Imagine having to tell the story 40 to 50 times, and you relive it every time," said Nelson.
"It's a lot emotionally, and it can become debilitating, so I tried to become aware of myself and what I needed."
Once he understood that his behavior was starting to change, he contacted his close relatives and friends, not only to inform them of his diagnosis, but also to get help. Nelson participated in a "cocktail treatment," which included a few chemotherapy, radiation, and meditation sessions for four and a half weeks.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc., less than 1% of all breast cancers develop in men – and unfortunately, Nelson would be part of that small percentage.
"Initially, I went to the doctor for sinus and allergy problems, but he started asking about my general health," Nelson said. "I told him about a lump on my left breast and he decided to have it checked for extra safety.Breast cancer was the most distant thing in my mind."
During his treatment, he lost nearly 30 pounds and was unable to work. He was afraid to sleep. But today, Nelson is currently showing no signs of illness (NED, as it is commonly known in the medical world) and has recently reached the 90-day threshold without cancer.
His fight is not over yet, though. He has been heavily involved in various organizations fighting breast cancer and has launched himself into social media to advocate for preventive measures.
On these platforms, Nelson often urges men and women to undergo breast self-examination – especially because there is living proof that men can also contract breast cancer.
"To be honest, I have become a kind of unicorn because there are not many men with breast cancer," he said.
"At first it was embarrassing because there is so much stigma attached to it."
He is also very involved in Beats to Beat Breast Cancer, an organization that uses the power of music to raise awareness and raise funds for research and prevention.
On Sunday, October 14, Beats to Beat hosted an awareness brunch and award ceremony in the honor of Vanessa Bell Calloway, a well-known actress who participated and co-chaired the National Black Theater Festival.
Nelson also participated in the festival, starting there as a teenager.
All his volunteering is just part of his individual healing process.
"For me personally, I did not want to talk about anything at first because I'm always in the middle of everything," said Nelson. "It's part of my healing process and I'm starting to attack it."
Regardless of age, race or gender, Nelson urges everyone to take as many preventive measures as possible, including regular doctor visits and genetic testing.
"Ignorance is not a happiness, and there is a knowledge of power," Nelson said.
"It's amazing how something looks like the end of the world, but it's actually my story, and that's why I'm here.
"I am grateful for my cancer because it has allowed me to follow a better trajectory in life, and I evaluate life in a different way now."
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Information from: Winston-Salem Journal, http://www.journalnow.com
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
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