The CEO of the charity, Breast Cancer Haven, Sally Hall highlighted how “many men [are] unaware of the potential risks and side-effects of the disease.” Correspondingly, the charity has created a ‘male makeover’ to support men, who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, by providing them with improved and faster access to the charity’s online services.
CEO, Sally Hall, added: “The aim with the ‘male makeover’ is to break down barriers for men accessing the charity’s support services. We want to highlight the incidence rates in men and move away from the familiar ‘pink’ breast cancer branding which can alienate men with the disease.”
Spotting the Signs of Male Breast Cancer
In the UK, it is estimated 1 in 870 men could develop breast cancer. The key risk factors involved in increasing this likelihood are ageing, high oestrogen levels and men with female relatives diagnosed with breast cancer. The latter risk is heightened, if the women are more closely related, for example mothers.
Similarly, certain lifestyle factors can trigger high oestrogen levels, that include being overweight and long-term liver conditions such as cirrhosis.
According to Cancer Research, the main symptom to watch out for is a lump located in the breast area, which is usually painless. Nonetheless, other symptoms to look for include:
- Discharge from the nipple.
- Swelling of the breast.
- A retracted nipple, therefore, a nipple that is pulled back into the breast.
- Lumps in the under arm.
- A rash on or surrounding the nipple region.
A visitor to Breast Cancer Haven, Dr Olu Taiwo, explained his first reaction to being diagnosed with breast cancer, “My first thoughts after being diagnosed were about my wife and two children – this was certainly going to impact their lives. Once the doctors explained the treatment I would need – six courses of chemotherapy, a mastectomy and radiotherapy – I immediately got to work learning the science behind all of the drugs and procedures that were on offer. I was determined to take control of the situation so that I could make the right decisions for me and my family.”
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