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 | BCNA Online Network

90 Replies

primek
Member
8 years ago
Hi Matt and welcome. Have you told your Dr about the discolored toes?. It's not uncommon to lose toenails with taxol (12 week one) but you aren't on it yet. Dark toes could be circulation issues so please see your Dr asap, contact chemo team or your breast care nurse (have you one of those? )

Ask anything you want and we will help as much as we can.
<3
PeterB
Member
8 years ago
Hi Matt
Check out out FACEBOOK PAGE at:
The Men’s Breast Cancer Forum. We’re based in Brisbane, and there are a couple of guys you can contact and chat to at any time.
we’ve all been thru exactly what you are going thru.
would love to hear from you.
Also on gmail at: [email protected]
Peter Bennett
Hopes_and_Dream
Member
8 years ago
Hi @Matt, sorry for your diagnosis but welcome.
As the others have said, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. We have all learnt that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate whether we are young or old, male or female, super fit & healthy or otherwise. There is lots of support here for you from both men and women.
All the best with your treatment and we will be here if you need us. Jane :)
Mira
Member
8 years ago
Hi Matt, I don't have anything to add to what the others have said but just wanted to give you a friendly welcome.
Sister
Member
8 years ago
Hi Matt, As everyone else has said - don't be embarrassed. I think you may be on the same chemo as me. I had 4 AC x 3 weekly and am now on Paclitaxol each week for 12 weeks (having No. 3 tomorrow). Interesting about the second toenails. I have the same thing but put it down to kicking a ladder (accidentally) for one and catching the other, lifting the nail, on a lounge chair. I do know that the AC can make you more susceptible to bruising so maybe it's just that those toes are in the firing line.
traveltext
Member
8 years ago
Hi Matt, I'm a guy four years post treatment for breast cancer. I've been down the road you are embarking on and would be only too happy to answer your questions.

Here's a site that I created to help with information: www.malebc.org

Plus, there's a Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/727904320668077/

Can you tell us the stage and type of BC you have been diagnosed with? Also, where are you being treated.

Be sure to keep us posted.
SoldierCrab
Member
8 years ago
here is a facebook group for men that is Aussie based. https://www.facebook.com/mensbreastcancerforum/
Zoffiel
Member
8 years ago
Hi Matt,
You are at the same stage of treatment as several of our unfortunate crew so they will be able to give you some real time reassurance about the common problems that plague us during chemo.
The manky foot thing does not sound good--it's normal to get horrible toenails if you are having TC chemo but I'm a bit concerned about the purple toes. Best wave them in front of your oncologist before your treatment this week and get their opinion.
We have a couple of men who use the site from time to time, @traveltext might be around to give you some info that may help you feel a bit more connected. Thing is, breast cancer sucks regardless of who you are, where you live or what your general circumstances are. Feeling like part of a minority doesn't help, but I think you can rest assured that all the stuff that frightens and worries you has frightened and worried most of us. We are all in it together despite our different genders and backgrounds. Marg
Matt
Member
8 years ago
Thank you everyone for your kind words, I will be back later, must go and pick up my daughter from school and give blood for my doctors appointment for tomorrow and my chemo for Friday
SoldierCrab
Member
8 years ago
Breast Cancer sucks not matter which gender you are.
Have you got a good Breast Care nurse and do you have some supports around you ?

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