My name is Eric Neitzel. I’m a single dad, former firefighter, and small business owner — and I never imagined I’d be writing this.

Recently, I was diagnosed with male breast cancer, a disease that affects less than 1% of all breast cancer patients and is often caught late because most men don’t know it exists. I’ve already undergone a right-side mastectomy and am now facing the long road of recovery and ongoing treatment at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, over three hours from my home.

As someone who spent decades responding to emergencies — wildfires, disasters, and communities in crisis — I’ve always been the one helping others. Asking for help now is incredibly difficult, but this fight has forced me to slow down and accept support in a way I never have before.

Between medical expenses, travel costs, lodging, time away from my small business, and caring for my dog Skye while I’m gone, the financial pressure is real — especially while I’m unable to work at full capacity during recovery.

But this journey isn’t just about me.

One of my goals in sharing this publicly is to raise awareness about male breast cancer, so other men recognize symptoms early and don’t delay getting checked. If my story helps even one man catch this sooner, it’s worth every vulnerable moment.

If you’re able to donate, I’m deeply grateful. If not, sharing this page helps more than you know. Every bit of support — financial or otherwise — moves me closer to healing and helps spread awareness about this rare and overlooked disease.

Thank you for standing with me during this fight.

— Eric