Male Breast Cancer - Does It Really Happen?

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Yes, it does. So infrequently that most of us don't even consider the possibility. But it does happen. I lost my husband to breast cancer 3 years ago. I remember how stunned we were when his doctor first gave us his suspected diagnosis. When he suggested a mammogram for further evaluation, we thought, OK, we'll do that so we can rule out breast cancer and figure out what's really wrong.

Looking back, the classic symptoms were there but we had explanations for them. The swelling on his chest was from a pulled muscle, the cough was from bronchitus or just a lingering cold. But breast cancer? Men don't get breast cancer. Well, yes, they do and when they are finally diagnosed with it, it is usually too late.

My husband lost his hard-fought battle 9 months later. He had been in stage 4 by the time we realized that his family history of lung and colon cancer could also make him a candidate for breast cancer. He was not a smoker, he had a healthy diet and was active. His only health problems were a collapsed lung that would have to be drained on two occasions. The affected lung was on his left side. The tumor was on his left side. A connection? His doctor said no.

M.Johnson - 2002

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