The Alaska Run for Women will be held Saturday, drawing thousands of runners and walkers to raise money for breast cancer research -- including a husband-and-wife team who are both breast cancer survivors.
Elisah “Bear” Baker was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.
“Of course I was surprised, and then I was mad.” Baker said.
After watching her husband endure painful chemotherapy Pat Baker was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 by her doctor during a routine check-up.
“He said, ‘Pat, you have breast cancer.’ You could have blown me away.” Pat Baker said.
Elisah Baker said his doctors weren’t concerned when he first found a lump, and it wasn’t until months later that he finally got a biopsy that confirmed he had breast cancer. Baker eventually got a mastectomy from a doctor who had only seen five men with breast cancer in his 35-year career.
“It’s fairly rare,” he said.
The annual Alaska Run for Women is now in its 20th year.
Email Rebecca Palsha
