Unseen and undiagnosed

In 2024, while sitting on the back deck of their house, Kieran’s wife noticed a small dimple on the right side of his chest. “Like many men, I brushed off her concerns and didn’t think much of it,” says the 70-year-old from the Mid North Coast of NSW. “A couple of weeks later she brought it up again, and this time I agreed to let my GP take a look.”

Kieran’s GP of over 30 years sent him for further investigation, including an ultrasound, mammogram, and a fine needle biopsy. Shortly after, he received a call that changed his life.

“The biopsy results showed I had a grade 5 adenocarcinoma, and hearing those words was just devastating — not just for me, but for my wife sitting beside me,” Kieran says. “I felt numb, and all I was thinking was how I was going to tell my children, my siblings, and my friends.”

A scan showed Kieran’s cancer had metastasised and could be treated but not cured, having spread to his ribs, spine, and pelvis. 

According to Kieran’s doctor, he was the first male patient he had ever diagnosed with breast cancer. “At first I felt angry about that — not at my doctor, but at the system,” Kieran says. “Since I turned 40, I’ve been diligent about regular health check-ups and following through with every preventive test or screening my doctor recommended because the last words I ever wanted to hear from him were, ‘if only you’d come to see me sooner’.”

Kieran would like to see a similar screening program or health check reminder for men and breast cancer. “By the time men are finally diagnosed, the disease has often progressed too far, as it did for me,” he says. “If a simple screening test had been available, I would have done it without hesitation.

“Maybe then, I wouldn’t be facing this uncertain future or the heartache it has brought to my family,” he says. “It’s too late for me, but it doesn’t have to be for the other 221 men diagnosed each year.”

One of his medications caused liver complications, so he is currently working on getting his liver healthy again so he can move forward with the next phase of treatment. “Despite all of this, I don’t feel defeated and I don’t feel alone,” he says. “I have incredible support from my family, friends, doctors, nurses, my oncologist, and the hospital staff.”

By telling his story, Kieran hopes he can raise awareness that men get breast cancer too, and he wants the healthcare system to acknowledge that. “Sharing my story isn’t about me — what I hope is that I inspire more men to speak up, seek help, and advocate for early detection,” he says. “The diagnosis affects everyone in different ways, but my advice is this: Be strong. Be kind. Be understanding.”