Wisconsin man living with stage 4 breast cancer shares story, mission to live each day
WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- "For years, they never found anything, it was just fatty tissue. And one day it just turned."
Tony Kapalczynski's battle with breast cancer started almost 50 years ago when he was in the Air Force.
"We loaded an airplane with some transformers on it. When we took off, they started leaking. Plane called for an emergency. We came back, took it off, cleaned off all the fluids. And we went to lunch."
"Next thing we knew, security police came to the chow hall, grabbed us, took us to the hospital, scrubbed us down. And the doctor said if anything comes up in the next 20-25 years, remember you were exposed to this highly carcinogenic fluid."
Tony's left breast eventually started growing. For years, he had ultrasounds and mammograms. Doctors said it was just fatty tissue.
"Men don't get breast cancer is the way I looked at it."
But in 2018, that outlook changed with a new doctor.
"Went in for a mammogram and ultrasound and right away I knew something wasn't right."
What started as stage two breast cancer quickly turned into stage four when they found it in Tony's bones.
"I have hips, sternum is loaded, ribs and spine."
It's a battle eight years and seven surgeries in the making. Pills, ports, chemo, estrogen blockers, breaks and fractures.
"Once it's in your bones, it's always there. There's no remission."
There may be no remission for now, but it has changed Tony's mission in life.
"Having to say the 'C' word, that kind of woke me up and changed the whole outlook on my life. I was going to start living life instead of just living."
Tony still plays pickleball, loves spending time with his daughter and roommate "Bubba," and his motorcycle is his happy place.
"Just take every day, do what I can to make it the best. And hopefully that continues for a long time."