Cancer Victims Get Apology

Angry breast cancer survivors got an apology from a city councilman who had refused to support a symbolic proclamation on the disease, saying he did not have breasts and was not interested.

Cancer survivors persuaded the council to adopt the resolution on a 6-1 vote Monday, two weeks after it was turned down. Monday’s vote endorsing the American Cancer Society’s designation of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month came with 10 days left in October.

Before the vote, cancer patients lashed out at council members Bill Wilson, Terry Cress, Opal Wilson and Wayne Whitehead, who opposed the measure Oct. 7.

According to a transcript of the meeting, Bill Wilson told the council he did not have breasts, was not a woman and was not interested in the resolution.

People who were at that meeting recounted the comment to cancer survivors, who arrived Monday to respond.