Male breast cancer

[Summersummersun]

Looking for hopefully positive stories. My DH found a tender, swollen and sore lump just behind his areola yesterday. It’s not any kind of chafing from sports (as I thought it might be originally). He went to the GP today who examined it, said it was very firm, and said they think it’s Gynaecomastia. He’s been sent for a blood test on Wednesday to check testosterone levels.

I’m so worried. DH is 41 and fit and well, in fact close to elite running levels, but in the past he has been overweight and smoked from age 20-30. He has always had what he called “man boobs”, and was always self conscious from teenage years even when he’s been slim.

He is trying to book a private ultrasound but that isn’t possible without speaking to the same GP he saw earlier, and they’re not available until Wednesday.

Breast cancer in men, which is already rare, is generally painless. The cause of the lump is far more likely to be as the GP said, especially as it's sore. Try not to worry.

Breast cancer lumps are not painful.

Please will people stop spreading the misinformation that breast cancer doesn't cause pain. I've had breast cancer. My first symptom before I found a lump was persistent throbbing pain. It is a common symptom and should not be ignored.

OP, while I hope the GP is correct, I would be insisting on a referral to the breast clinic. Your husband should not have to pay for a private ultrasound (assuming you're in the UK). I hope it's something simple and easily treated

Wrong.

Thank you all, so sorry to hear you’ve had breast cancer @TheFormidableMrsC , I hope you’re ok now?

There was no mention of anything further other than a blood test, the message was very much “we’ll discuss after the test”. Are men referred to breast clinics? I understand that it has to be an ultra sound rather than a mammogram for males?

My only symptom was pain. I went to the doctor, she wasn’t sure if she could feel anything but referred me to the two week wait anyway. I was diagnosed with a 5cm triple negative tumour two weeks later. She saved my life. Pain is not a common symptom for breast cancer but it should not be used to rule out breast cancer.

OP, I would be going back and telling the GP he needs a two week wait referral. NICE states quite clearly:

• Refer people using a suspected cancer pathway referral (for an appointment within 2 weeks) for breast cancer if they are:
• Aged 30 years and over and have an unexplained breast lump with or without pain, or
• Aged 50 years and over with any of the following symptoms in one nipple only:
• Discharge.
• Retraction.
• Other changes of concern.

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/breast-cancer-recognition-referral/

Importantly it doesn’t apply only to women - it is for anyone with those symptoms.

I'm fine thank you, long may that continue 🤞. Yes men are referred to the breast clinic. Whenever I go to the breast clinic there is normally at least one man there who is not accompanying a partner. Do the blood test and go back and ask for a referral. That is what I would do. I nearly didn't get one as the GP was convinced I had a cyst but I insisted and thank goodness I did. As I said earlier, hopefully it's absolutely nothing to worry about!

It’s so hard, DH is very very worried and so me saying to him to go back quoting this pathway has freaked him out. Why are men so funny about their health? He’s not a doctor dodger and will be seen for all sorts (he saw the GP for a cut recently) but I think this has freaked him out.

@TheFormidableMrsC so glad to hear you’re well. Was your pain a lump as well?

@Princessdebthe1st sorry to hear about you too, how are you now? So yours was pain alone at first, did you ever feel a lump?

It’s so hard, DH is very very worried and so me saying to him to go back quoting this pathway has freaked him out. Why are men so funny about their health? He’s not a doctor dodger and will be seen for all sorts (he saw the GP for a cut recently) but I think this has freaked him out.

@TheFormidableMrsC so glad to hear you’re well. Was your pain a lump as well?

@Princessdebthe1st sorry to hear about you too, how are you now? So yours was pain alone at first, did you ever feel a lump?

I had pain first which I put down to hormones as I have always suffered with cyclical pain. However it didn't go away and I turned awkwardly one day and felt something pull. Then I found the lump. Obviously I went straight to GP. I was fortunate that treatment was seamless as it was the start of the pandemic. I know it's scary, but it's far less scary than having a late diagnosis. Again, this may not be anything of the sort but I would still be insisting on a referral

Hi OP,
I am fine now. I was diagnosed 5.5 years ago and remain clear. I never felt a lump. Even when I was diagnosed and knew it was there, all I could feel was a ‘difference’. It felt a bit ‘thicker’ but not a discrete lump.
It is very scary when you think about the possibility of breast cancer but what he needs to remember is that most people who go through the two week wait route will not be diagnosed with cancer. For those that are diagnosed treatment has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and the great majority of those are cured. The sooner cancer is diagnosed the greater the chance of a complete cure . Good luck x

Thank you both @TheFormidableMrsC @Princessdebthe1st . So so glad to hear you’re both healthy and well now.

Do let us know how he's gets on. Wishing you both lots of luck