This panel discussion gives an insight into the male breast cancer experience. Napoleon shares his personal experience with being diagnosed at an early age, the struggle to tell his family, and the difficulties he faced with his healthcare team. Lester shares his experience with multiple cancer diagnoses and living with metastatic breast cancer.
Napoleon Griffin
Breast Cancer Survivor
I am a proud 5th grade math and science teacher educating our future leaders. I am a nationally ranked competitive masters rower winning multiple national boat and team titles with Texas Rowing Center, based in Austin, Texas. I have always been an active and physically fit individual. I was a competitive track & field athlete throughout my adolescence, teens, collegiate, and early adulthood winning many national titles in the 800/1500 meters. In 2013 I completed the 800/1500 double at the World master’s Game in Torino, Italy. My natural competitive spirit surfaced when I was diagnosed in late 2008. That resilient spirit of competitiveness to never give up or succumb to defeat, resulted in my remission in 2011 making me a 12-year breast cancer survivor.
Lester Fowler
Metastatic Breast Cancer Thriver
Lester moved to the Austin area in 1982 and have been here ever since. I was diagnosed with stage 3b colon cancer in 2009 and went through a year of chemo and radiation plus several surgeries beating it. I was declared cured and was able to stop my annual oncology checkup in 2017. I was also diagnosed with Basal cell carcinoma in 2009 which was removed by cryosurgery and stage 0 Melanoma in 2018 that was surgically removed. In March of 2023 I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and have been dealing with that since.
Jorge M Chavez, PhD
Clinical psychologist
Dr. Jorge Chavez is a Licensed psychologist in the state of Texas. He is fully bilingual as he was born in Mexico, but moved to the United States for high school. He has a masters in clinical psychology from Columbia University, and a PHD from Long island University. He has worked in several college counseling centers, hospitals, in-patient units and the Peter Krueger HIV clinic in New York. Presently, He has an office near Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin where he sees Individuals, Couples and Families. He is Certified in EMDR trauma therapy, as well as PACT couples therapy. He has worked with several non-profits in town, including helping bring affordable therapy to underprivileged families with Communities in Schools, as well as helping provide free therapy to individuals diagnosed with cancer, who would otherwise not be able to afford therapy through the flatwater foundation. He is currently accepting new clients in the Austin area, and you can buy his children’s book “The secret to a good night’s sleep” on Amazon.com.
Diaa Osman, DO, MPH
Medical Oncologist and Hematologist
Texas Oncology
Dr. Diaa Osman is a board certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist. He completed his medical school in Fort Worth at the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. He then pursued his Internal Medicine residency at the University of New Mexico Hospitals and completed his fellowship training in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Cancers. He began his Oncology practice in Minneapolis, MN until recently joining Texas Oncology and is currently practicing out of the South Austin and Lakeway locations. He has a background in clinical nutrition and integrative medicine and prides himself on his holistic approach to oncology care. He was recently voted as a Texas Rising Star and featured in Texas Monthly magazine.
