Men need to check their chest for lumps too

Tell us about yourself

Before retiring, I spent 49 years in engineering. I started as an apprentice toolmaker and ended my career specialising in problem-solving and design improvements. I’m used to looking at how things work, finding the flaw, and fixing it. 

When did you notice something might be wrong?

My first experience of cancer started in 2017. I had a biopsy on a red lump on my nose, which came back positive for skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma). Soon after, I had surgery (Mohs surgery) to remove the cancer and had a local skin graft to repair the area.

My next experience with cancer started in 2024. I noticed a lump in my right breast but wasn’t sure whether I should raise it with my GP, so I did nothing for a couple of weeks. Then I noticed that my right nipple was inverted, with no reaction to touch. I went to my GP soon afterwards. She immediately referred me to a consultant who did a biopsy. 2 weeks later, I got the news that it was ductile breast cancer.

The skin cancer was bad news. But the word ‘cancer’ faded quickly for me because I didn’t need chemotherapy. I was more worried about the effect on my nose. Being told I had breast cancer was definitely more of a shock.

What treatment did you have?

The cancer was a grade 3 (fast-growing) carcinoma. I was quickly booked in for a mastectomy and a sentinel node biopsy to establish the spread and stage of cancer.

The operation to remove the cancer went well and the 3 sentinel nodes removed were sent off oncotype dx testing.

The oncologist saw me about a month later to discuss the results of the sentinel nodes test and the potential need for follow-up treatment.

He suggested there would be minimal benefits from chemotherapy and recommended a prescription of 20mg Tamoxifen for 10 years. I’m now 20 months cancer-free and everything is good, although I have now reduced my Tamoxifen to 10mg. I’m back to working on my house, landscaping the garden, and hitting the golf course.

How has the Men’s Virtual Meet-up group (VMU) supported you?

I was given some booklets and leaflets about breast cancer, but I soon realised they were designed for women. I even had to fill out a questionnaire that included questions about periods! Thankfully, I was also given details for the Men’s VMU breast cancer support group, who I contacted for support and to ask some questions.

The Men’s VMU has been a great source of information for me. The companionship you gain gives you hope after breast cancer, but also doesn’t hide the reality of everything that comes with breast cancer.

It provides the chance for a group of men to meet, put the world to rights, and discuss the opportunities to support research activities, trials and events. Our focus is on providing a safe place for men to ask questions and discuss their own experiences of pre- and post-breast cancer.

How else have you been involved with the VMU?

I’ve recently joined the VMU leadership team, which I am very proud of and grateful for. As part of the leadership team, I’m looking for as many opportunities as I can to spread the word of men’s breast cancer. I want to find new and exciting ways to expand our reach so the support network can help as many men as possible.

There are lots of universities and organisations doing research into breast cancer in men, and they contact the VMU to ask for support from men who have experience with breast cancer. This is a growing area of support at the VMU.

If you could highlight one key message, what would it be?

It’s so important to spread the word of breast cancer in men. Men need to check their breasts for lumps and inverted nipples, just like they would check for any other cancers that affect males.

There’s currently a lack of data and resources to support and inform men with breast cancer. The more research and information available will help to empower men to understand and manage their diagnosis.