During every October, it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and most people, when they think of breast cancer, they will think of women. Although much more common in women, breast cancer can also affect men, as it can affect anyone with breast tissue, which everyone has in their chest. Male breast cancer is relatively rare, as it amounts to approximately 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses but this does not mean that it is not something for men to be aware of and check for. Just as with breast cancer affecting women, it can spread to other parts of the body and early diagnosis and treatment gives the best possible chance of the cancer being cured.

Harry Gray’s Story

There are approximately 400 men diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, according to Breast Cancer Now. One such instance of male breast cancer was recently reported in the Daily Mail, this being Harry Gray’s story of his diagnosis. Like with many men, the idea of breast cancer had not occurred to Harry and on developing soreness to his chest, Harry, who had always been a keen runner, attributing the soreness to the rubbing of his nylon running shirts and later to a damaged nerve in his chest.

The soreness however worsened, becoming what Harry described as excruciating pain in his left breast, and so he decided to see his GP. The GP fast tracked Harry to a specialist cancer unit, where he was shocked to be told that he had stage two breast cancer. He had a lump under his left breast and in one lymph node. He had to undergo a mastectomy, and the doctor had to remove 19 lymph nodes and undergo 4 rounds of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Harry had explained that he never thought that breast cancer could affect him, as breast cancer is much more prominently linked to women’s health. Harry is seeking to raise awareness about male breast cancer and is calling on men to check themselves regularly in much the same way that you check your testicles for testicular cancer.

How does a man check for signs of breast cancer?

• Symptoms of male breast cancer can include the following:
• A lump or swelling in the chest or armpit
• Thickening of the skin on the chest
• Changes in the size or shape of either side of the chest
• Sores or ulcers on the chest
• Changes to the skin covering the chest, such as dimpling, puckering, scaling, or changes in colour.
• Changes to the nipple, such as changes in shape, skin colour or scaling, or a nipple that begins to turn inward.
• Discharge or bleeding from the nipple

As with checking for female breast cancer, it is important for men to check their chests regularly, so that they are aware of what is normal for them, which makes it easier to spot any changes.

Types of breast cancer

The most common type of breast cancer in both men and women is invasive breast cancer. Other rarer types of breast cancer that can occur are:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
• Invasive lobular cancer
• Paget’s disease of the breast

Risk of breast cancer

There may be an increased risk of male breast cancer if you:

• Are over 60 years old;
• Have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer – this may be related to a faulty gene which increases your risk of cancer, such as a faulty BRCA gene;
• Have had radiotherapy to the chest before
• Have had a condition that affected or damaged your testicles or have had one or both of your testicles removed
• Work in a hot environment like a steel works, as this can cause damage to testicles;
• Have higher levels of the hormone, oestrogen.

Our expert medical negligence solicitors have a wealth of experience on dealing with cancer misdiagnosis claims. If you would like to speak to one of our experienced team, please contact Williamsons at 01482 323697.