Podcast: Men Have Breasts, Too: Diagnosed With Male BC

Thanks for sharing your story Stephen, it resonates with me and the other men I know who have to deal with this disease. One day the pink charities will have to own up to their role is keeping the community unaware of male breast cancer. Meanwhile, as the pink dollars roll in, later diagnosis is leading to poorer prognosis for many men.

I post on BCO regularly on many threads and It's never been suggested that I confine myself to the men's section. I think most women now understand that male breast cancer is not a different disease, rather it's breast cancer in men and all the treatment, issues, worry, etc is identical between the genders. I also believe that men need to be responsible for their own health and should check themselves for all diseases, including breast cancer, particularly if they have a genetic predisposition to it.

Guys, I am a woman but I agree with you. The best thing I heard after I was diagnosed with breast cancer is that it is not BRCA1 or 2 and my brother, my niece and nephews are not at risk.

I am sorry that you have to deal with clumsy situations. I am sorry that you have breast cancer. You should request to doctors develop forms and questionnaires designed for men or gender-free ones in which men or women select those alternatives that apply to them.

I always wear a pink cancer awareness pin to all places. If others ask I tell them that I am honoring my sister who died a year ago from breast cancer metastases. You could use a pin too if you don't mind wearing something pink or a lavender one that applies to all cancers. If others ask, you tell them that men get breast cancer too. A lavender T-shirt with the same message will get the same result.

Good luck to you and I hope you don't mind I passed by and commented.

Maria

I am not putting down women in any way, I also know the embarrassment as it seems every doctor in a three state area wants to examine me in every way possible. and I know the worry when the doctor gets that look just before starting all those tests fortunately my surgeon is pretty good at it, and almost no pain afterword's. the drains? yes they are a nuisance for longer than needed, it seems. the worry starts after the surgery when you find out it is stage 4 after all, and look it up on the internet. then the weeks before the oncologist tells you what your treatment is going to be. I have been through that and more, fortunately with the support of a great wife and kids. Ladies, I respect you for your fight against breast cancer and would like to support you any way possible. were both in this together, and I HATE CANCER

if the questions that don't belong to you bother you, use a bit of humor to let them know with strange answers. such as,," when was your last period?" " now" makes them run around a bit.

Cliff, I like your humor and would like to read what you would write in a form with this question. LOL. One good answer would be "about a month ago when I was hanging out with my friends" or "I'll ask my wife". No, just kidding.

Now, I think you should help fellow guys. You could make a video of a male checking his own breast and commenting on what you are continuously exposed in service sites. We women get the information from other women's videos who have gone this journey before and we have a good idea of what we'll encounter. Physicians do not talk about severe side effects of chemo drugs or RT; they talk about of common side effects only. Also post what kind of questions you should be asked in a form.

It is so sad that men's cancer is found late and with a poorer prognosis I was lucky. I was reclassified from Stage III to Stage II because the only tumor I had decreased in size. I am a little bit curious: Why are you given tamoxifen and not an AI (aromatase inhibitor) if your tumors are ER+/PR+. Can you ask your MO if they are ineffective? These drugs worked quite well in me and others who have breast cancer.

Time to sleep. Take care, guys. And get inside of women's site and remind us that we better check husbands, boyfriends, and male family too. (I include my brother in my post MX check ups so he learns.)

Maria

My tv video is on KAKE.com click on Kake on your side, then buddycheck10. my video is the one with the old fart beside the Christmas tree. the buddy check 10 is a series they have on to have people choose a "buddy" and call them on the tenth of each month to remind to check for breast cancer.

without a bit of humor, cancer can be real scarry.