SARASOTA, FL (SNN) – Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women, and breast cancer awareness month is heavily focused on ladies in pink for that reason.
SNN Evening Anchor Cynthia McLaughlin‘s grandfather Patrick McLaughlin found out he had breast cancer last year.
Experts on the Suncoast explained to SNN how just because the disease is rare, it can still occur in men.
“It hits home when it happens in your family,” said Cynthia’s grandmother, Oma McLaughlin.
Breast cancer awareness month – often referred to as “Pinktober” – focuses on empowering breast cancer survivors, and honoring victims through pretty pink products that are appealing to the women it affects.
Very rarely will you find a fundraiser geared towards men.
“In the United States, male breast cancer is relatively unusual,” said Doctor Steve Mamus, medical director of the Cancer Center of Sarasota.
Dr. Mamus says less than one percent of cancers in men is made up by breast cancer, but that doesn’t make it impossible.
“It was sore but not painful,” said Patrick McLaughlin.
Patrick is a grandfather, an army veteran and now, a breast cancer survivor.
“I was just shocked. I never thought of anything that I would get that it would be breast cancer,” said Patrick.
He found a one centimeter lump in his breast late May of 2020. Thanks to some pressure he went to get it checked out right away.
“I kind of nagged him to go to the doctor,” said Oma.
It’s a good thing she did, considering how backed up hospitals were at the time.
“I lucked out and if I had waited one more day then I would’ve had to wait six more months,” said Patrick.
Like many cancers, early detection is key. D. Steve Mamus says men don’t always come in right away.
“They feel that if they have an abnormality in the breast then it’s probably something benign. I think the delay in diagnosis really is that for most men they don’t really consider the fact that male breast cancer exists,” said Dr. Mamus.
But it does, even if it’s not nearly as common as the cancer is in women. That disparity was clear to Cynthia’s grandparents when they showed up for the mammogram.
“When they were giving me the mammogram none of the machines are meant for men. So I had to shrink down to fit in the machine,” said Patrick.
Dr. Mamus says a simple mastectomy is the best treatment, but unlike you would when treating women, you don’t worry about breast conservation and radiation as much.
“If you’re going to put a patient on hormonal therapy, or hormonal intervention, for a man it is typically Tamoxifen. Tamofifen is a medication that blocks the ability of female hormone to bind with the receptors,” said Dr. Mamus.
Tamoxifen blocks the ability of the hormone to interact with the cells. As a result you can block the ability to develop breast cancer, but that comes with some side effects.
“He goes through hot flashes and all that just like going through menopause,” said Oma.
“You can sometimes have a roller coaster in terms of your emotion. You can also get very emotional you can get depressed you also have to watch for weight gain,” said Dr. Mamus.
As for grandpa, he’s just grateful to be cancer-free.
“After the radiation everything was good. I probably have to take pills the rest of my life but that’s good,” said Patrick.
So the next time you wear pink for the fighter or survivor in your life, remember, the best protection is early detection, and that goes for all genders.
“I’m hoping that more men get it though their heads that this can happen to them also,” said Oma.
68 is the average age for men to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and risk increases with age. Patrick McLaughlin is 74.
Other factors like heavy drinking or smoking and a family history of cancer can put you at an elevated risk as well.
