Hi I'm MattA male with breast cancer, I came across this site a couple of days ago, I've been reading a lot of blogs and has been very helpful wish I found this before I started my treatment :-), not sure what treatment I'm on but must be a common one, I do 4 at 3 week intervals with my 4th one this Friday then change over to weekly for 12 weeks, then I go in for surgery and if all good start my radiation so far so good on side effects not much really, lost my hair about 2-3 weeks after first treatment, a bit of constipation and sleepless nights, just last week I noticed two of my toes, one on each foot right next to the big toe went purple in colour at the top, the left toe nail changed colour to purple and the right toe nail changed to a hazy white, will I lose them,just touching base for today and introducing myself, it is a little hard for me to talk about this but am getting better

Hi AllThanks for your concerns, at the moment i'm doing fine, my wife and daughter are great support and my family, while i'm getting treatment there's hope, sure before treatment, emotions were all over the place but i'm much better now, ok looks like I might be losing a couple of toe nails but hopefully they'll grow back, same with my hair :-) @Romla thanks for the compliment but i'm not young, I guess the thing that really keeps me going is my daughter she is 9 yrs old, i'm a late starter hehe,@traveltext and @PeterB thank you both for all your help and information, its a great assert to have

There is a section for men to post here. They really just don't post though. When you consider there's only 150 new cases a year in Australia and most of them are like Matt. too embarrassed to post. I'm on the US breast cancer blogs all the time, particularly breastcancer.org, since there's 2500 new cases over there per year and many more guys to reach out to. Also, malebreastcancercoalition.org has a website and Facebook page.I'm always available to help men offline and I'm a Cancer Council trained telephone counsellor. If Matt, or anyone here wants to contact me here: http://malebc.org/contact/

Hi MattGood luck with the steroids, I was lucky and didn't need them, just as well as I didn't like Taxol at all, found A/C easier. Lymphoedema is manageable, may also be temporary, but a compression sleeve is sensible. If you can get access to a specialist lymphoedema therapist, it's worth trying to do so. Exercise helps, your physio should be able to give you a daily regime. Takes me less than five minutes twice a day. So does massage but you need a good therapist to show you how. Your arm is susceptible to germs, so take extra care with any cuts or scratches, particularly in the garden or around animals. I've only had one infection in six years, so it's usually not a frequent thing but can be serious if it occurs. Just wash and disinfect ASAP. Any other advice I can give just ask! In October I will be six years free of cancer, a few side effects but worth it? You bet!! Best wishes

There's an old saying "You can only make a first impression once" and that is so true. I'm not an advertising guru, but I do consider myself to be pretty street smart and attentive. With the overload of advertising in the modern world, you have only a split second to attract the eye of your potential target. If the colour, format, music or jingle, give you a bum steer right at the get go, you've lost them...they won't come back for a second look. The pink loo lady cut out doesn't do it for me at all. I simply can't imaging any bloke's eyes swivelling back for a second look at any written message attached to it that might save their lives. Not that many years ago, informational advertising regarding heart attacks typically portrayed a middle aged businessman clutching his chest in pain. The general public opinion on the matter was that heart attacks typically affected middle aged businessmen and that the symptoms were chest pain. The picture said it all and reinforced that public perception. How many women died because they thought that what they were experiencing was a severe attack of heartburn? It is now more publicly known that these so called facts are not always true. Men of all ages and occupations have heart attacks as do women. Some have chest pain, some don't. Some have abdominal pain, some have only dizziness, some are silent and simply knock you down. Breast cancer ...ditto... Mostly women, but certainly men get it. Some have a discernible lump, some don't. Only recently was the thing with the lemons out in public...many people didn't know that you could have breast cancer if you didn't feel a lump. I think things could be improved to firstly attract the attention (and donor dollars) of the public and then accurately inform and educate them.

@Matt I think what Ive liked about the Forum is, eventhough I came well after I'd finished all treatment, it's a place where you can talk about everything, knowing you are understood completely. Loved ones and friends mean well, but they cannot understand the full extent of it physically or mentally, so I have found it invaluable to be able to come here to share experience or offer support and in turn receive the same by people who just 'get it' All the best coming up to Taxol, it is different but I didn't personally find it easier on top of the Fec. Make sure you keep your Team in the loop of absolutely everything as I found my pain management wasn't very good at all and struggled as am drug sensitive so could only take nurofen with panadol osteo. Step at a time, but sounds like you're smashing it! :) Melinda xo

A Little Embarrassing | Online Network

kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Hi Matt. Welcome! Sorry you're here, but now that you are I hope you find it as helpful and supportive as I have. And there's zero embarrassment here; just yesterday a whole bunch of us were talking about post-chemo hair regrowth... and not on our heads!

Sounds like your chemo might be AC & Taxol. If you find out from your doctors or nurses you might be able to search on here to find some threads of interest.

Hang in there! Kate xox
kezmusc
Member
7 years ago
Hey Matt,

Welcome. As you have already found there is heaps of excellent information on the forum. Sounds like you are having the standard ACT chemo. Blah. Great that you are doing ok on it. (except the purple toes). Keep talking. I think there is a mens group on here as well. @SoldierCrab might have the link.

All the best .

xoxoxoxo
Matt
Member
7 years ago
great I feel better already :blush: thanks
Kiwi_Angel
Member
7 years ago
@Matt don’t at all feel embarrassed - this is a no judgement, talk about anything, no question too silly place. Sorry I are here but glad u decided to join us!!

@kmakm - I still giggle thinking about that thread.
AllyJay
Member
7 years ago
Hi there @Matt , welcome to the site where there is no shame, or topics off limits. Yes, we do have a few guys here, no doubt one of them will soon touch base with you.
SoldierCrab
Member
7 years ago
HI Matt sorry you have need to join us mate, I will tag some of the men on the forum for you
@traveltext
@PeterB Boys we need some Male support please

Nothing is embarrassing on this forum Matt we try to be inclusive of all ..... @PeterB
has a facebook group also.

here are some links that might help you find your way around
Below are a couple of links to help you find your way around the forum and also how to find a breast care nurse and how to order a MY journey Kit if you haven't got one yet.

It can be a a whirlwind when we first get a diagnosed.... Breathe and take it one step at a time.

The what and how thread.

http://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/14879/the-what-and-how-thread/p1

Breast Care Nurses

https://www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/OurMission/OurNurses/FindANurse.aspx

My Journey Kits and other resources.

https://www.bcna.org.au/resources/

BCNA Helpline 1800 500 258
If you have any questions, concerns or require any further information or support please call 1800 500 258. The Helpline is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 am till 5 pm EST and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am till 9 pm EST.

Soldiercrab
AllyJay
Member
7 years ago
@Matt, just realised that your generic photo portrays a woman, wearing an Alice Band no less, no wonder you feel a tad sheepish. Methinks the site managers need to rethink this matter, perhaps interlinked pink and blur BC bows?
SoldierCrab
Member
7 years ago
Matt you can change your picture if you want to .... Do you know how to ?
iserbrown
Member
7 years ago
@Matt - never feel embarrassed on here! We're all here to help and if you are up in the wee hours and get on the forum there's always someone nearby that will answer a question

What type of Breast Cancer do you have? This is a link from the BCNA website to help you understand

https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/types-of-breast-cancer/

also you have mentioned surgery so here's another useful link, Reclaim your curves site information sheet, what to pack for hospital as well as other interesting information

https://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/information-sheets.html

and another one on Nails

https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/nail-changes/

Take care and best wishes
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Matt my nails are gross from my chemo (which was different from yours), which I finished at Easter. I've got five fingernails trying to fall off but so far they're hanging on because I've kept them cut as short as possible. Several of my toenails have turned very dark brown but haven't lifted yet. Currently they're painted orange so I've no idea what's going on under there! You could do a Wil Anderson and paint yours black! K xox