Cordeaux Heights grandfather Rob Fincher is urging other men to take notice of changes in their breasts after his shock cancer diagnosis.
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The 60-year-old is living with metastatic (incurable) breast cancer, and believes a lack of awareness that men can get the disease too led to his late stage diagnosis.
It was his wife Ann who first encouraged him to see his GP after noticing he had an inverted nipple. Initially thought to be the result of a cyst, it took some time before the correct diagnosis was made.
‘’By the time I was diagnosed seven years ago it was quite well advanced and I think that’s one of the problems men face,’’ Mr Fincher said.
‘’People view breast cancer as a women’s disease and there’s a general lack of awareness – even within the medical profession – that men can get it too.
‘’It certainly came as a complete shock to the system for me – I had to have a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
‘’And it soon became apparent that I was a man living in a women’s world – everything was pink and there was no great support or information around and I felt quite lost and alienated.’’
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) hopes to change perceptions – and help men facing the same diagnosis – by acknowledging Male Breast Cancer Awareness Day for the first time on Friday.
This year it is expected that 144 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. While this is a small proportion of the total number of people diagnosed – less than 1 per cent – it’s a diagnosis that can bring very specific challenges for men.
‘’Men who are diagnosed with breast cancer don’t usually have access to clinical trials, there is a lack of tailored information to support them and they often face a stigma in the community when they tell people about their diagnosis because they have what is often considered ‘a woman’s disease’,” BCNA CEO Christine Nolan said.
‘’Men also tend to be diagnosed at a later stage due to this low public awareness that men can get breast cancer and this can often lead to a poorer prognosis.’’
In 2014 – after four years in remission – Mr Fincher was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer after it spread to his lungs. He’s doing well under the care of renowned Wollongong oncologist Professor Philip Clingan – and the progression of his cancer has stabilised.
‘’I’m on ongoing medication which is keeping it at bay – and I’m looking forward to some of the advances coming forward with respect to immunotherapy drugs,’’ he said.
‘’Not yet – but not too far down the track – maybe breast cancer can be like a chronic disease, not a terminal illness for many.’’
Mr Fincher is also now doing advocacy work for BCNA to help in the prevention – and treatment – of male breast cancer.
‘’My family, friends and colleagues have been fantastic – however I know there’s the perception out there that breast cancer doesn’t happen to ‘real’ men,’’ he said.
‘’Yet the tide is turning – and for the last few years I’ve been doing advocacy to help ensure other men don’t go through what I went through.
‘’Meantime October is breast cancer awareness month and for the first time there’s a day dedicated to male breast cancer.’’
In 2016 BCNA consulted with men with the disease and as a result extended the tailored information it sends to newly diagnosed men.
‘’More of our male members are becoming powerful advocates for Australian men with breast cancer and there is no doubt this will positively impact the cancer journey for other men who are diagnosed,’’ Ms Nolan said.