I was only 39 when I discovered a brown spot on my nightgown several times in the morning. I didn’t realise where that came from until one morning I stood in front of the mirror in a bare upper body and saw a glistening drop on my nipple. I wiped the drop away with my nightgown, and the same colour of the stains appeared. Mystery solved, I thought.
My wife did not leave it at that and insisted on going to the family doctor. Our family doctor made the right decision and immediately sent me for an X-ray. It became a mammogram. What a fumble to take the right position between those two plates, followed by an ultrasound, blood samples, and radiography. The specialist said that there was a lump that would be best removed. I underwent a first procedure in which my nipple and mammary glands were removed. After examining the removed tissue, the verdict fell.
I had breast cancer. How is that possible? I am a man after all! A second operation followed with complete removal of the left breast and all the axillary glands. At the time, there was not much information available about men with breast cancer, so I would try to fill that gap afterwards by setting up a patient association with a few fellow sufferers. The uncertainty was great: would I survive, and how should we continue to pay off our family, school-age children, and mortgage loan, not an easy task with a limited income.
The follow-up treatments were stressful, but fortunately successful.
With a battered body and a motivated mind, I was able to go back to work. My old job as a technician was no longer possible, so I had to switch to an office job. So adapt again and study.
In the end, I had a great career after the procedure. The disease had also taught me positive things, and I am very happy with that. Breast cancer in men does exist; don’t ignore the symptoms, and if in doubt, consult a doctor, as it can save your life.
Andre Pauwels: Kortenberg °1957