My journey with male breast cancer

This article is part of Breast Cancer and Black Women, a destination in our Health Divide series.

Photo courtesy of Len Robertson / Designed by Julie Bang / Verywell

Len received his undergraduate and graduate education from the City University of New York and his graduate education from Columbia University. She currently teaches high school music for the New York City Department of Education in Brooklyn.

To most people, I don’t look like a typical person diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, but it happened to me.

It all started with chest pain. I immediately went to have it checked out by breast specialists at SUNY Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn, where I had been treated six years earlier for a problem with my right nipple. At the time, it was just a benign tumor, which he had removed, but I was warned to keep an eye out for any other problems, as cancer was a possibility.

It turned out that the pain I was experiencing years later was, in fact, breast cancer, and I was diagnosed by the same specialists who had helped remove my tumor years before.

Once I received the diagnosis, the next challenge I faced was finding the right avenues for treatment, as many hospitals were not equipped to deal with a rare male breast cancer patient. I first began to see the disparity as a man diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as an African American.

Finding a path to treatment

As a teacher, my initial response was to search for answers and solutions after realizing that my current doctor was unsure how to proceed with my diagnosis. It was a waiting game at first, but I knew I had to do something to take my health back into my own hands. So, I told my family, it was a difficult thing to do, but they supported me and promised to help me on this journey.

Then I saw an ad about the United Federation of Teachers in New York working with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I called and told them my situation, and they attended to me within a few days.

The doctor told me exactly what to do. He had dealt with male breast cancer before and assured me that he was going to be fine, which was a relief to hear after several weeks of not knowing what to do.

Finding the right medical care had been a stressful barrier to cross, but once I knew I was in good hands, the path to treatment and recovery opened up. So, I had a double mastectomy that was to be followed by several rounds of chemotherapy. I still had a rough road ahead of me when I started chemotherapy, but at least this part of the adventure had begun and it was successful.

Finding the right medical care had been a stressful barrier to cross, but once I knew I was in good hands, the path to treatment and recovery opened up.

support is key

Throughout the process, I realized how important it is to have a community of supporters, especially when you’re going through chemotherapy treatment. I had my family there to support me, but I also found companionship with other cancer patients through the Rising Voices Choir at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

I have been a trained singer for years, but chemotherapy affected my entire body, including my voice. I couldn’t control my voice in the same way and was struggling to deal with that change. But everyone in the choir, including some doctors and nurses who were also diagnosed with breast cancer, loved my new voice and helped me stay positive through recovery and treatment.

When I talked to those people and everyone in the choir, I was very touched by the support within our group. They helped me realize that this diagnosis was going to affect me for the rest of my life, and I looked for ways to share my story in hopes of helping other men with breast cancer find the right pathways to medical care and

Advocating for Male Breast Cancer Awareness

There’s no question that breast cancer is well known and highly advocated, but in my experience, one of the most difficult challenges I faced was a lack of understanding when it came to men who have breast cancer. That is why I am such a strong advocate for my journey with stage 2 breast cancer, in the hope that it can help someone else who may be struggling with the same issues and facing similar disparities in seeking treatment and care. adequate.

I want to empower other men who receive this rare diagnosis to see how I approached cancer head-on and came out the other side a different person, with much to give back to the breast cancer community. I want to offer as much support, knowledge and advice as I can, as well as tips for prevention and discuss the disparities not only among male breast cancer patients, but also among black cancer patients.

I want to offer as much support, knowledge and advice as I can, as well as tips for prevention and discuss the disparities not only among male breast cancer patients, but also among black cancer patients.

As a black man diagnosed with breast cancer, I know the importance of raising awareness of this condition, as breast cancer is more prominent in black men than white men. Black men are also more likely to have a BRCA mutation, which can increase the risk of prostate cancer and other cancers as well.

In my experience, I have seen firsthand how members of the black community tend to shy away from health care and medical treatment in general, and I want to change that notion.

Like black women, black men with breast cancer tend to have a poorer prognosis, so advocating for prevention and early action when something doesn’t seem right is critical when it comes to diagnosis and treatment. It may be something as small as chest pain, but getting checked out sooner rather than later can make all the difference, especially since detecting any type of cancer early is ideal for a better outlook.

For any other man who may be diagnosed with breast cancer and don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. I was grateful to find additional support from:

• The Male Breast Cancer Coalition

• Breast Cancer Research Foundation

These places helped provide me with the materials I needed to continue with my treatment. Finding the right accommodations to treat male breast cancer can be difficult, but with the right support and a trained health care team, the road to recovery is much easier to navigate.

And for men who are less likely to schedule a doctor’s visit when something seems amiss, I encourage you to seek medical attention regardless of your age, race or ethnicity. Something small might not be a cause for concern, or it might be an indicator of something more serious. Getting a checkup pays off when it comes to your health and wellness.

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