Men Get Breast Cancer Too: Which Kiss Star Survived It?

(CBS) Think breast cancer is just for women? Think again.

Peter Criss, the 63-year-old founding member of Kiss, was one of the nearly 2,000 men that are diagnosed with the disease each year.

Criss got the news in 2008. He was treated before the tumor could spread, and after a three-year battle, he is now cancer free, he told CNN last year.

Now, the drummer who once wore platform heels on stage, says he is walking to help others in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" march on Oct. 17.

"I would love for you to join me in this walk to help save lives and bring awareness to men and women about this disease," he says on his website.

The fund-raising event has already raised more than $108,000, according to Foxnews.com.

Male cases are very rare compared to female breast cancer, making up less than 1 percent of the total. Yet doctors say men don't usually find out they have it until the cancer is in its later stages, because they don't generally get routine breast exams or mammograms, according to CNN.

In 2009 an estimated 192,370 women in the United States are expected to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer, and about 40,170 are expected to die of the disease. Among men, there will be an estimated 1,910 new cases and 440 deaths - this according to the National Cancer Institute.

A few other high-profile men have spoken out about the disease, including Richard Roundtree, the actor who played the title role in the 1970s "Shaft" films.

As for Criss, he says men need to stop being macho and wake up.

"So many people must die from this," Criss told CNN. "Somebody has to step up to the plate and say something to get them aware of how dangerous this is."

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