Breast cancer in men real, get screened …Male survivor shares his story

Mr Arthur

 Breast cancer, a disease commonly associated with women, affects men too. Despite being relatively rare among men, male breast cancer accounts for approx­imately one per cent of all breast cancer cases.

Mr Abaeku Arthur, a retired Social Security and Nation­al Insurance Trust (SSNIT) employee, shares his story of resilience and survival after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007.

Journey

Mr Arthur’s breast cancer journey began with a com­plaint to a surgeon friend about the size of his breast and how uncomfortable he feels whenever he wears a T-shirt.

He said, “I feel uncomfort­able any time I wear a T-shirt mainly because, female friends would usually play with my breast.”

Also, Mr Arthur said he would usually see blood stains on his bed sheet but attribut­ed them to mosquito bites.

His friend and surgeon at The Trust Hospital suggested a surgical procedure to reduce the size of his breast. The surgery was successful, but the real surprise came when the tissues were sent to the lab for analysis.

The results revealed a shocking diagnosis: breast cancer in his left breast.

“I was unaware men could get breast cancer,” Mr Arthur admitted. “I thought it was exclusively a women’s dis­ease.”

Treatment/Recovery

Abaeku underwent a second surgery at the same hospital, this time specifically targeting the cancer. The procedure involved cutting from his chest to his armpit. He then proceeded to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for chemo­therapy and radiation.

He said due to the effects of the chemotherapy, he lost all the hairs on his body and unlike some women whose menstrual cycles cease as a result, Mr Abaeku Arthur said “ it did not affect me in any way, I am still strong.”

Family Support

His family was devastated by the news, but he reassured them, “It’s God’s will.” They stood by him throughout his treatment, providing all the support and encouragement needed during the period.

Awareness/ Advocacy

Mr Arthur who turned 70 years this week said before undergoing the surgery for breast cancer, he vowed to create awareness about male breast cancer.

His aim was to demystify the notion that men with big breasts had breast cancer. However, he stressed on the need for screening anytime they experienced anything unusual with the breast.

He emphasised on the need for screening in order to detect it early; saying “early detection is key. I have sur­vived for 17 years, and I am still strong.”

Statistics

Male breast cancer ac­counts approximately for one per cent of all breast cancer cases.

However, stigma and lack of awareness surrounding the disease seems to have prevented men from seeking medical attention.

In Ghana, according to the National Centre for Radio­therapy, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), male breast cancers accounts for 2.9 per cent of all breast cancers seen, consistent with the slightly higher rates reported in other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry shows that 93.7 per cent of male breast cancers are ductal carcinomas, 2.6 per cent pap­illary, 1.8 per cent mucinous and 1.5 per cent are lobular carcinoma.

Also the centre said 80 to 90 per cent of male breast cancers are estrogen receptor positive, and 65- 90 per cent are progesterone receptor positive.

According to the centre, most common presenting symptoms in male breast can­cer are painless sub-areolar lump, nipple retraction and bleeding from the nipple.

The centre also noted that, generally, management strat­egies of male breast cancer are the same as females as no prospective randomised trials have been conducted to establish treatment protocols in men.

It mentioned that breast conservation in males may be a challenge due to difficulties in obtaining neg­ative margins resulting in a high rate of upfront radical mastectomies performed.

Conclusion

The story of Mr Abaeku Arthur is about how both men and women were at risk of hav­ing breast cancer and how important it is to check it and not ignore the little signs on the breast.

It is equally important for men to know they are not immune to breast cancer and the need to break down the barriers and encourage open discussions.

Also education of patients, families and health providers will increase awareness of male breast cancer, ensuring early presentation, prompt referral or early diagnosis, treatment and improved survival.

Mr Abaeku Arthur’s 17-year journey as a male breast cancer survivor serves as a testament to resilience and determination.

His story inspires others to prioritise their health and seek medical at­tention when the need be.

 By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu