Men get it as well

SOUTH Africa has the highest rate of breast cancer in men in Southern Africa, says chief executive of Breast Health Foundation Louise Turner.

But the good news is that this is not necessarily because more men have breast cancer, just that more men are coming forward and receiving treatment.

“It’s not as taboo as it used to be but there is still stigma, particularly among patriarchal cultures where men don’t even speak about women’s issues,” said Turner.

It is a misconception that breast cancer is a women’s issue, says Ismail-Ian Fife, founder of Can-Sir based in the Western Cape.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, four years after being cleared of prostate cancer, Fife said even his doctor believed a lump in his left breast was a lipoma, fatty lump under the skin. “I started feeling pain under the nipple and it was excreting a clear sometimes white fluid.”

A biopsy confirmed breast cancer but because it was caught early and after he had “vigorous and severe radiation” and a lumpectomy, rather than the removal of all the breast tissue, he was cancer free.

“Even though I had read a lot about cancer in dealing with the prostate cancer, like most men I was naive about breast cancer in men.

It’s a cliche but early detection really does save lives so men must stop this machismo ‘it won’t happen to me’ thinking. We need to be aware of our bodies and go to the doctor if something is not right,” said Fife.

Can-Sir’s 2016 research data from four hospitals around the country found a 50% increase in male breast cancer patients since they initially did a count in 2008.

More hospitals are to be included in the study when Can-Sir opens its offices and a support group in Durban next year.