Mens Breast Cancer

Hi @PeterB
I'm on the policy team here at BCNA. We have a number of men diagnosed with breast cancer who are active in our membership and I have reached out to see if they are interested in making contact. Two of our men are active on the online network from time to time - @"Chester80$$" and @traveltext
In 2016, we carried out a consultation with a group of men diagnosed with breast cancer. The aim was to better understand what BCNA and other can do to better meet the needs of men facing a breast cancer diagnosis. A copy of the full report and executive summary of this project can be found here. 
This year, on October 20th, we are launching Australia's first male breast cancer awareness day, with stories from men on our social media and local news. If you are interested in sharing your story with local media, we are looking for men currently in QLD, WA and Tasmania. Opportunities for a media spot will depend on the level of interest and availability of local media (radio, television).
Be sure to visit our website, Facebook page and Twitter feed on October 20th for the awareness day!
If you have any questions or queries please also feel free to private message me here. I am providing ongoing outreach and support for male breast cancer projects and member enquiries.

Warm regards
Pauline McLoughlin
Senior Policy Officer
BCNA

Hi Peter, Welcome to the forum. 

Hi @PeterB and @traveltext, I was just wondering if you use this forum much. I’m interested in the male perspective on the very pink world this forum can be. Would love to see a blue page, blokes shed style. I know this is a gender stereotype, but you should set up your own group on here, as well as part of the more general community. Sorry, just noticed that you have your Facebook one set up. 

I’m at the stage where i’m not sure I have much to offer in this space and I need to return to the big wide world to seek the normality I strive for. This forum is a bit of pontoon on the journey of cancer. It’s ok to rest for a while, but you have to keep on your journey. All the best with everything. I look forward to a more inclusive forum. The people on here are wonderful and have supported me through some tough times. x 

Pauline,
We have just started with a Facebook page.
The Mens Breast Cancer Forum.
Just completed an interview with Quest Newspapers. Can find interview on our FB page. 
Been on FB for around three weeks and have had likes in every state and also NZ and Tonga so far.

Pauline,
also talking to Rose Augustin from SBS INSIGHT, about getting men’s breast cancer as a subject for their programme.
PeterB

Pauline
Sorry, her name is Roje Augustin.

I have a friend who had a bc scare about 2 years ago & he promotes men checking themselves as well - being a well known identity in the LGBTIQ community he has a lot of scope to reach a lot of men. 
I was just mentioning the Oct 20th Men's BC awareness Day - he would like to help promote this & has asked me to get a link please. 

Hi @MKitty68, thanks for letting us know about your friend. For the awareness day we'll be posting on our social media and website on the 20th October and it'd be wonderful for your friend to share our posts. If he's interested in getting in touch, I'd be happy for you to pass on my email to him: pmcloughlin@bcna.org.au and we can have a chat. 

LucyE, I'm not here much because there aren't many men posting. There's more activity at breastcancer.org but over the past few years I'm the only guy posting regularly on this large US site with a membership of 132,000. IMO men don't talk publicly about bc because they are emdarrassed to be diagnosed what the pink charities have led us to believe is exclusively a woman's disease.

BCNA is this year promoting a special awareness day for male bc on 20 October. I hope the message gets out there since while awareness levels that women get bc is running at 100%, awareness levels that guys get it is closer to 30% that's a long way behind and it means we're getting diagnosed later. This is too bad and really quite discriminatory. 

Good luck attaining the normalcy you desire.