Mammography Should Be Primary Tool to Diagnose Men

but even a manual feeling would be better than most doctors do now.24 years 4 times a year to the same doctor and the first time he checked me was when I said " whats this doc? it kinda hurts". turned out to be stage 4 already spread breast cancer.

the state pays for mammograms for women, and actually gives mammograms to men, but only under 60 years old. they don't advertise the free mammograms for men at all. that is Kansas where I live.

with all the wonderful things that have happened since my lump was "found" I really think it might be difficult for me to not invert my doctors nose if he ignores my right breast on my next exam. it would have been so easy to check before stager 4.

Too true KB870 Here's what we would like from the pink charities and the medical profession:

Male Breast Cancer Manifesto

We wish to build and promote a consistent profile and narrative within all cancer groups for male breast cancer that enables a more balanced perspective and supports improved health outcomes.

We ask breast cancer groups to:

• Provide inclusive imagery and de-gendered language across all mediums to acknowledge the disease exists in men as well as women.

• Build a sense of importance and belonging within cancer support groups for male breast cancer patients and their caregivers.

• Provide easy access to relevant up-to-date information for men that is prominently displayed and accessible by all groups.

• Institute breast cancer research and development funding to the equivalent of one percent of the total amounts raised.

• Include a splash of blue among the pink to promote awareness of male breast cancer.

• Set aside a day in October to publicise male breast cancer.

• Institute public breast screening programmes for all BRCA1 and BRCA2 males.

Please let us know if your organisation is able to adapt to a more inclusive agenda for the promotion of breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research.

good for you, chisandy, sounds like you got one of the rare doctors that actually has heard of male breast cancer.

You're right Badger, this is a great male bc teaching moment and I know the Male Breast Cancer Coalition are on to it.

Cliff, this might be an opportunity for you to contact your senator and explain that men can get this disease too.

Likely, yes, if he reads THIS.

I had an interesting conversation with my Mammogram Tech a few months ago:

MT: Soooo, what brings you in today?

Dave: I am 1 year post dx of my breast cancer. My Dr wants a follow up mammogram.

MT: Sorry, we don’t give mammograms ‘Willy Nilly’

Dave: I have breast cancer and my doc ordered one.

MT: men don’t have breast

Dave: I’m here to tell you that MEN HAVE BREAST TOO!

MT: your breast formed because of your breast cancer.

Dave: you need to read a book on your next break

MT: I’ll call your doc and explain it to her

Dave: are you serious? You are questioning my Dr’s orders???

Mammogram Tech actually left the room and came back with the Radiologist. One of them called my oncologist.

Radiologist: we are going to give you a mammogram just this one time

Dave: you are correct,,, because I will never return to this office again.

My oncologist flipped and told me that she made a few calls. She didn’t tell me the outcome but my guess is that the MT doesn’t work there anymore.

This is just a sample of the way I have been treated this past year. I have been treated like a freak by some people.

I logged into these threads about male breast cancer to do some research for a book I am writing. As a female I have had breast cancer, but had no idea of the stupidity of medical professionals related to men with breast cancer. I plan to include a man with breast cancer in my book. I will be sure to reflect in the story the confusion and lack of understanding about how this cancer can attack men as well as women. I hope the book helps inform more people about male breast cancer.

Having a male relative that suffered breast cancer is one of the more dangerous family histories for a woman with a lump or other symptoms, according to my oncologist. Also I want to caution against being lulled into a sense of security that a you do not have a “genetic” link to your breast cancer just because it is not reflected in your genetic testing. If there is a family history of breast/thyroid/prostate and other hormone sensitive cancers there is likely an unknown genetic link. When my mother was diagnosed in 1987 they only tested for BRCA I and II. When I had genetic testing in 2015 they tested for 23 different genetic variants. Today there are probably even more. We are just in the early stages of understanding the information available in our genetics.