<\/figure>\n Huge chunks of blubber rained down on beach after whale was blown up with dynamite <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Suicide was never far from my thoughts, and I was left with feelings of embarrassment and shame that of all the cancers to be diagnosed with, it had to be a \u201cfemale\u201d cancer. I found it tough to tell friends and family that I had breast cancer, keeping it to a very close circle to avoid the stigma; but was it my fault that I was feeling like this?<\/p>\n
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with 55,000 new diagnoses in women each year; however, often overlooked are the around 400 men diagnosed every 12-months. It is no surprise then that breast cancer is synonymous with women, but the iconography and language used around the disease is leading to a dangerous communication issue in which men are misled to believe they can\u2019t get breast cancer.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t long after receiving my diagnosis that treatment began. I would be undergoing eight cycles of chemotherapy, followed by a single mastectomy and then radiotherapy. I was told that my treatment plan could change if the cause of my breast cancer was genetic.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lo and behold, after my first four sessions of chemotherapy, the results came back revealing it was due to a genetic mutation caused by BRAC2. This changed everything. And once again it was revealed to me how little is known in the wider community, including the medical profession, about male breast cancer. <\/p>\n
This new twist in my journey meant longer, more intense chemotherapy but also that I would now need a double mastectomy \u2013 yet another blow to my already tattered mental health. Facing massive self-image issues, I tried researching statistics around male breast cancer caused by the BRAC gene to find none existed. <\/p>\n
Having then spoken to a genetic expert, they revealed that the chances of a man developing secondary breast cancer in the other breast were minimal \u2013 my treatment had been based on the pathway of females suffering with the disease.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I knew at this point that something had to be done. I had already considered setting up an organisation to raise awareness around male breast cancer, but this felt like a sign \u2013 I had to do this, and I had to do this now as more men could be facing unnecessary surgical procedures based on incorrect assumptions.<\/p>\n
Being diagnosed with breast cancer had given me a new perspective on life: I was no longer going to sit back and put things off, whether it be going travelling, having new experiences or setting up the UK\u2019s first male breast cancer organisation: moobs.<\/p>\n
Whilst my prognosis now looks more positive than it did six months ago, I\u2019m still going through treatment. It\u2019s like riding a train to an unknown destination and whilst I hope for the best when it comes to the final outcome, this is still uncertain.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Like all cancers, if found early, the chances of survival are good; but with the mortality rate of men with breast cancer being 19% higher than that of women, more research and awareness is desperately needed.<\/p>\n
Men: you can get breast cancer and if you find a lump, book a GP appointment \u2013 do not wait until it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n
What to look out for: * A lump in the breast tissue that is typically firm, painless and immobile within the breast * Inversion of the nipple or upward turning * Nipple discharge, including bleeding * Persistent soreness or rash around the nipple * Presence of small swollen bumps in the armpit<\/p>\n
For further information about moobs, click here.<\/p>\n
For more stories from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters <\/i><\/b>here<\/u><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\nExclusives<\/li>\n Health issues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nSource: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bookmark Never miss any of the fun stuff. Get the biggest stories and wackiest takes from the Daily Star, including our special WTF Wednesday email Thank you for subscribing! Never […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":181143,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
'I got disease I thought blokes couldn't get - I had to read about loose bras' - Hot World Report<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n