When you think of breast cancer, you think of a form of cancer that affects only women. It doesn’t.
While breast cancer in men is rare it’s still an issue for the 10 men on average who are diagnosed with it every year in Northern Ireland.
Ian Cranston, 70, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May. Two weeks later he had a mastectomy.
The Portadown father-of-two was given the all-clear in June and has decided to speak publicly to make men aware that it’s a cancer that doesn’t just affect women.
He said “men also need to check their breasts for changes”.
Inverted nipple
In May, Ian’s wife Elizabeth noticed something wrong when he got out of the shower.
Image copyright SPL Image caption About 10 men in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with breast cancer each year
She told him he had an inverted nipple and needed to see his GP.
“I didn’t know what that meant,” said Ian.
“Men can’t get breast cancer, I don’t have to go to the doctor.
“I wasn’t aware I had breasts. This is my chest, men don’t have breasts, it’s impossible,” he added.
Eventually his wife persuaded him to go to his GP, who referred him to Craigavon Area Hospital.
Image caption Ian Cranston alongside breast care specialist nurse Annie Treanor
The diagnosis stunned him.
“Men having breast cancer, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.
“I couldn’t do or say anything. My wife Elizabeth cried.”
Four days later Ian said he “just broke”.
He has decided to help try and raise awareness of the disease, saying that if his speaking out helped one man, it would be worth it.
“I can understand where women are coming from because I’ve had breast cancer myself,” he said.
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