Hastings and Bexhill Area Breast Cancer Support Group
Gentlemen with Breast Cancer
A number of men do develop breast cancer and we
would certainly like to offer support to them. It is a
difficult situation for men to accept, some prefer to talk
about their "chest wall cancer or tumour" instead of
their breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Care does have a helpline for men which
many have found useful. They may also put you in touch
with others if you wish.
Obviously, Pink Ladies is attended primarily by women,
but if a chat with one or more of our members would be
helpful, please call one of us on the numbers listed to
talk through the situation to see if we can be of help to
you. We are all facing the uncertainty of this worrying
disease and want to help each other through it.
This article was written by Roy Collins, a local guy who
has recently been through breast cancer treatment
BREAST CANCER IN MEN - Are we aware it does apply to
blokes as well?
We men eh? What are we like?
We are very aware of breast cancer in women. We are
bombarded by the media showing us ladies in pink
ribbons running here and there for cancer charities and
other cancer support groups. All valuable stuff to further
the research, and to be applauded. But how many of us
realize this is also an issue for men? Well I have news
for you guys out there. It is! What’s more, it appears to
be on the increase and high time we were checking
ourselves for signs.
Yes, I hear you, first it’s check your testicles, then look
in on your poo for signs of blood and the possibility of
issues with bowel cancer. What next I hear you cry. We
blokes don’t generally accept its normal behaviour to
play with our own boobs. Members of the opposite sex,
oh yes, perfectly fine and dandy to check those but no,
not a manly thing to do to check one’s own. Goodness,
it’s hard enough checking your own testicles but again, if
she fancies that job, well that’s fine by us eh?
Seriously guys, it’s time we bothered. Google breast
cancer in men and you will be amazed. I know statistics
can be mind blowing at times but these we ignore at our
peril.
There are prime age groups among us men who are
more susceptible as there are in women. Mid to late 40’s
and up seem to be favourite. I was diagnosed at 57 after
my wife asked about an inverted nipple on my right
breast. I have to say I was not overly concerned as
temperature changes will alter the appearance as I’m
sure you will agree, 57 and a very healthy 57 at that. No
health problems to worry about in all that time. Me, I’m
indestructible! Aren’t I? Nevertheless, off to the doc and
within a very short space of time I found myself in
Hastings Conquest Hospital running the gambit of tests
to confirm or deny the presence of something nasty.
It was indeed confirmed as a cancerous lump and had
grown to 6cm in size with lymph nodes under the right
arm also infected. It could have been detected earlier
and if so may well have been treated differently with
less invasive surgery. As it is a full mastectomy of the
right breast and clearance of lymph nodes was
scheduled followed by 18 weeks of chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy will then follow for a further 2-3 weeks and
finally 5 years’ worth of tablets to control hormone
levels.
Do you really need me to repeat the bit about checking
your breasts?
I am by nature a very positive person and, like most of
us blokes I’m sure, if we have a choice of sort it or sit on
it we will choose the former. Operation, chemo, radio
and whatever else it takes. Just get rid of it! This has
been my philosophy and 3 weeks away from my last
dose of chemo I appear to be doing ok.
Yes there are side effects. Fortunately for me they have
been minimal. Sore mouth, hard to swallow at times,
diarrhoea but only rarely, aching joints due to injections
for increasing white cells to fight off infections, (rather
important that one) but after a couple of weeks you
notice an increase in red cells that have taken a knock,
the tiredness isn’t such an issue and your daily walks
are easier. Taste can also be an issue and foods you are
so used to, become more like cardboard. However,
choose soups and with me, syrup flavoured porridge was
a godsend. Oh, and you do lose your hair! And not only
the hair on your head, try eyelashes, legs, eyebrows and
pubic! Hair on head was not a major problem for me as I
have been folically challenged for some years and you
would be hard pressed to notice any difference!
Positive mental attitude is the key. Support from family
and friends as well as work colleagues is a huge bonus. I
have been blessed with both and I am grateful for it.
Having a wife who just happens to be a nurse is
obviously another bonus for me. She is aware of the
issues but I believe she too has learnt a great deal from
my diagnosis.
This message is purely for your awareness and not a
platform for me to boast about my journey through
cancer treatment to date. If you are able to detect
lumps yourself, or simply ask the GP to check for you at
a well man clinic visit, you may well be saving yourself
from much longer, and it has to be said, challenging
treatment.
I remain very positive re the prognosis and look forward
to furthering my career for a good few years yet.
Roy Collins.