I found my lump by sheer chance and had a breast removed in June this year. Because of my age (73)and chances of survival, I am on medication only for the next 5 years.
The breast clinic that I attended was fanatastic and I cannot fault the care that I received.
The waiting area was plastered with notices about female breast care but not a mention of men. I understand that there are about 300 cases in the UK each year and because that is such a small proportion of all cases it tends to be swept under the table.
Whilst it’s too late for me now I would like to make an appeal for men to be advised that they should check their breasts for lumps in addition to the awareness advice for prostate and testicular cancer.
I agree that awareness of the rarer types is very poor especially of the male variety. Although I’m female the type I have is also very rare (about 300 cases per year too). I had no lump and a mammogram failed to pick it up. Lucky for me I was seen by a very experienced surgeon who recognised my symptoms. It was also very aggressive so had it not been spotted early I would have had a very poor prognosis.
Hello Beeftruss, I am sorry that you have had Breast Cancer to deal with and sorry that there does not seem to be the same support for you. My neighbout had BC when he was a young man and he is retired now. I never knew he had BC at the time but he gave me hope when I most needed it. I hope you manage to get in touch with some other men who are going through this. Well done for coming on to the site. There are some men who have posted on this site but I think their wives were being treated. But we are here to support you too so please join in.
I had BC when I was in may late 30s and I have reached the ripe old age of 60 now. Did you have the support of friends and family when you were undergoing treatment? Take care. Val
So sad for your news i also have to agree with you about male reconiction and awareness i feel you are getting your point over what i cant grasp is you said that you had your breast removed in june its november now is it that men are feeling embarassed i dont no women get embarassed to i feel it shouldnt matter whether we are male/female we have to do what is necessary
Hi Beeftruss I have also had BC this year and I couldnt agree with you more.The staff are all wonderful what is missing is a lack of reference to men. Breastcancercare are working on a new booklet for men at the moment which I hope will help others.Best of luck with your treatment and recovery.
John
Hi Beeftruss
I am David - at 52 diagnosed with grade 3 BC just before Chirstmas 2003 - full mastectomy (3cm tumor also attached to Pech muscle - both breast and muscle tissue removed + 16 nodes) to right side - Janurary 2004 - Chemo (FEC75) & Radiotherapies (25) to follow - then told to take Tamoxifen for 5 years - this didn’t agree with me - took the tablet everyday for 2 years - then nothing - drug free eversince.
I was one of the Original Men who book the Breast Cancer Care book together way back in 2005/6 - not much done since for men with breast cancer. Seems strange to me, that when I was diagnosed way back in 2003 - some 250 to 300 every year diagnosed with breast cancer - now nearly 2011 still the same number.
I dont use this site much now - just pop in now and again to keep upto date with things - but if you look back into the archives you may see some of the posts from back then - used to 5 or 6 men post regularly - very few now.
Always available should wish to contact me - I am sure we could swap details somehow.
If not - Good Luck with the Journey - remember we have come along way since my time - I am now 59 coming upto 7 years clear - so keep looking to the future.
Hi Beftruss
I am another David, age 62. I had breast cancer 11 years ago, no chemo or radiotherapy, but was on Tamoxifen for the first five years.
I used to post quite a lot on this forum, but now only look in from time to time.
I agree that there is not much refernce to men with breast cancer in the leaflets, but that is supposed to be due to there not being many men with breast cancer, “only” 300 a year, compared with the thousands of women.
I sometimes give talks about breast awareness, and mention that men can have it. I have also made some quotes in the BCC booklet about men with breast cancer, and so hope the message gets through.
I hope that you recover from your operations in time.
Hi guys.
I am a campaigner for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and I am starting a campaign with the support of Breakthrough and Vodafone World of Difference Foundation involving upping the awareness about breast cancer in men. I am looking forward to the book from BCC. I am after all charities who submit press releases containing stats of breast cancer include those of men as a matter of course. This would also be asked of newspapers UK wide that should they ever have to report on cases of breast cancer and print stats that they also mention that it is also diagnosed in men. The fact that it is generally called a “female” cancer is understandable, but starting to get awareness out there about men can only be a good thing.
Saw the feature on the Police officer with Breast Cancer on the tv program via the internet - he said nothing that hasnt been said by most men over the years - there is no change now than there was in 2004 when I was fighting Breast Cancer and men, I stood up on my soapbox and shouted to no avail.
The olny people who can really make a difference are the Breast Cancer Charities - if they let people that Men can get BC too - in the various campaigns - things may improve…
Look at the BCC book for men - I helped put this together - re the first edition. Still the only publication availble.