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If you're reading this, it's likely that you or someone you love has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Shock and disbelief are common reactions to any cancer diagnosis. For most men, a personal diagnosis of breast cancer brings an added sense of disbelief. This is not surprising because, as you've undoubtedly been told by now, breast cancer in men is quite uncommon, accounting for less than 1% of all cancers in men, and indeed, less than 1% of all breast cancers.
Rare or not, if you are dealing with breast cancer you will have questions, need information and support tailored to your individual circumstances. You've probably discovered that there is a lot of information for women with breast cancer and very, very little written specifically for men. Many men say that it feels like their needs and specific issues are being ignored.
Everything I picked up was geared to women – so I put it down. I went to a couple of cancer courses, one was the Living with cancer education program, and I found that very helpful.
Norman, Kalamunda, Western Australia
Because breast cancer in men is uncommon, it may be hard for those around you, including your health professionals, to know how to support you. Some men are embarrassed telling others they have breast cancer; others report that people seem embarrassed when they tell them.
Remember, this is a medical condition and you should expect the same level of support and compassion from health professionals, family and friends as you would expect if you had bowel or prostate cancer. Indeed, family and friends often don’t know what to say or how to support someone with cancer, no matter what type of cancer it is. It often helps to break the ice if you take the lead and talk openly about your cancer.This sends the message that you are comfortable talking about your cancer and that it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
We hope that the personal stories included here and the suggested resources help you in your journey with breast cancer.
Resources
A list of resources that we hope will help you with your journey with breast cancer.
Breast cancer update - Lancet article review
Personal stories
This collection of personal accounts contains some stories from men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. We would also be interested in your story so if you are interested in contributing, please email
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