34-Year-Old Mistook Lump On His Chest For An Ingrown Hair—It Turned Out To Be Male Breast Cancer

Informing his primary care physician about his unusual “ingrown hair” prompted his doctor to refer him to a dermatologist. An ultrasound and a biopsy ultimately led to his diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer.

Male breast cancer is rare, according to the National Cancer Institute— but it can be just as serious. Experts urge men to pay attention to changes such as lumps, swelling, or discomfort, especially since men aren’t routinely screened the way women are.

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Touching further on the shock he’d felt learning he had cancer, Nelson, who was living in Los Angeles at the time, explained to GQ, “I’d gone to that appointment alone, not expecting it to be anything out of the ordinary, and I honestly don’t remember what he said after telling me my diagnosis. His words just didn’t make sense. Wasn’t cancer supposed to be painful, make you fatigued, cause you to rapidly lose weight … something? Other than my allergy flare-up, I felt great.”

After noting how he had a family history of breast cancer, his grandmother passed away the disease, Nelson recounted going through chemotherapy and avoiding telling others about his diagnosis.

“Sharing my diagnosis meant reliving the emotions I felt when I learned I had cancer, so I found myself not wanting to tell friends and family members. I didn’t want to burden them. I ultimately only told, like, three people. In hindsight I realize I robbed some of my loved ones of the opportunity to be there to support me, but I wasn’t thinking straight at the time,” Nelson, who later tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation, raising his risk for breast cancer, explained.

He underwent nearly two years of treatment, which included chemotherapy, radiation, and a lumpectomy.

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Now, eight years later, he remains cancer-free. Still aware that recurrence is possible, he continues to prioritize regular medical checkups and performs self-exams at home to stay vigilant about his health.

Nelson hopes that by sharing his cancer journey, and joining the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance (MBCGA), he’ll help save lives but encouraging other men to get checked.

he has since moved to New York City and credits cancer for changing his mindset.

“I’m so grateful … for having the opportunity to shift my perspective on what’s possible. When you get knocked down, you have no choice but to get back up. My cancer diagnosis was a catalyst that helped me change my whole life,” he concluded.

“I’m in the best shape of my life, I’m healthier than I’ve ever been, and my spirit is happy. My view on everything is different.”

Nelson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2018, has since worked to help break the stigma surrounding male breast cancer by sharing his story and raising awareness through MBC Global Alliance

He told the alliance in a recent interview, “I wanted to live. I had a reason to live. My beautiful son needed a father. He needed a father who fought and would encourage him to fight. He needed me, and I needed him. And other men needed me as well.

“They needed me to be honest about how humbling and difficult a breast cancer diagnosis is. They needed me to tell the truth about all the questions, the pain, the confusion, and the frustration. And they needed me to tell them that it was possible to live after the diagnosis and after the treatment. That could only be true if I did it myself. I made the conscious decision that I had to become an advocate for my healing.”

Better Understanding Male Breast Cancer

Like women, men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast start growing out of control, typically forming a tumor that’s felt as a lump.

WATCH: Men Get Breast Cancer Too

A man’s risk of developing breast cancer may be higher if there’s a history of breast cancer in the family. Typically, male breast cancer manifests as lumps in the chest area. Factors like a patient’s race can impact the prognosis.

Five types of standard treatment are used to treat breast cancer in men:

• Surgery for breast cancer in men mirrors the procedure in women. A modified radical mastectomy removes the whole breast with cancer. The result may involve removing the nipple, according to the National Cancer Institute.
• Chemotherapy involves cancer-killing drugs to prevent the cancer cells from growing. Chemo drugs are usually taken orally or intravenously.
• Hormone therapy involves removing hormones or blocking their ability to help cancer cells grow.
• In radiation therapy, high-energy beams such as X-rays are aimed at cancer cells to kill them.
• Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.

WATCH: Marc Futterweit shares his breast cancer journey.

When Marc Futterweit was told to get a mammogram by his doctor, hewas in disbelief.

“I said, What do you mean by a mammogram?’ I don’t have breasts,” Futterweit recalled saying.

However, a second opinion from another physician confirmed Futterweit had breast cancer.

“When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t tell my wife. I thought I was holding it together,” Futterweit said.

When his family learned he was battling breast cancer, they supported him. Having a support group filled with loved ones is an important part of a cancer patient’s journey toward survivorship, according to experts SurvivorNet has spoken to.

He realized that with their support, having male breast cancer is nothing to be ashamed of.

“Men are basically standing in the shadows, they’re ashamed or embarrassed,” Futterweit says. “Just remember, it’s nothing that you have done to cause you to get breast cancer. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s not a woman’s disease.”

Possible Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:

• Age. Breast cancer risk increases with age, and most cancers are found in patients over 50. The average age of a man diagnosed with breast cancer is 72.
• Family history. Men with close blood relatives who have had breast cancer are at higher risk for the disease.
• Genetic mutations. Patients may inherit gene defects that make them more susceptible to breast cancer. Men with a mutation in the BRCA2 gene have a 6 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and men with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 1 percent lifetime risk. These gene mutations are most commonly found in families with strong histories of breast or ovarian cancer, but they have also been found in male breast cancer patients without a family history.
• Klinefelter syndrome. Men with Klinefelter syndrome are born with at least one extra X chromosome which may increase a man’s breast cancer risk by producing high levels of estrogen (a hormone responsible for female sex characteristics) and low levels of androgens (hormones responsible for male sex characteristics). This condition affects about 1 in 1,000 men, and can raise the risk of breast cancer by 20 60 times that of the general population.
• Hormone therapy. Men who have been treated with drugs containing estrogen are at a greater breast cancer risk. These drugs were once used to treat prostate cancer, and they are still used in sex reassignment processes.
• Conditions affecting the testicles. Testicle injuries, swelling or removal surgery can increase a man’s risk for the disease by disrupting normal hormone levels.
• Liver disease. Diseases that impede the liver (like cirrhosis) may raise men’s estrogen production and lower their androgen levels, therefore, increasing breast cancer risk.
• Alcohol. Heavy drinking is known to raise the risk of breast cancer (which may be related to alcohol’s effect on the liver).
• Radiation therapy. Men who have received radiation therapy to their chests (for conditions like lymphoma) have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
• Obesity. Fat cells can transform androgens into estrogens, boosting the possibility of an overweight man developing breast cancer.

If any of the above risk factors applies to you, consult your doctor and feel free to ask questions. While it’s true that men can work to lower their breast cancer risk by exercising and maintaining a healthy bodyweight, the most important element of effective cancer treatment is an early diagnosis.

Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer Can Include:

• A lump developed in the breast (usually painless), or a thickening in the breast tissue
• Nipple pain
• An inverted nipple
• Discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody (this was Mathew Knowles’ first symptom)
• Changes to the color or texture of the nipple and areola
• Changes to the color or texture of skin on the chest
• Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm

If You Feel Something, Say Something Men Ignore Symptoms Too Often

Treatment for male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. A person’s options depend greatly on a variety of factors, including the size of the tumor and how far the cancer cells have spread, but possibilities include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.

When to Screen for Breast Cancer

The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.

The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.

WATCH: Mammograms are still the best tool for detecting breast cancer.

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.

Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.

Regular Self-Exams Are Helpful In Between Mammograms

A self-breast exam is an easy way to monitor your breasts for abnormalities. It involves feeling the breast for swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple.

WATCH: How to perform a self-exam.

Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found that is concerning, you should contact your doctor. It’s important to note that self-exams should be done with regular mammograms.

Help Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.

“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.

WATCH: How to cope with complex and changing emotions.

If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.

SurvivorNet experts suggest that women who need a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.

• Let your family and close friends know, and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support, but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
• Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
• Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
• Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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