Men get breast cancer too, and you need to know — that’s survivor Michael Singer’s message.
Michael is particularly outspoken about male breast cancer now, because he was embarrassed when he first got diagnosed. In fact, he found it hard to even tell people that he had breast cancer. “I couldn’t say breast cancer … I was embarrassed. It was stigmatizing … I was, still thinking I’m a freak,” he says.
Read More Eventually, Michael came to terms with his diagnosis — and decided to help raise awareness that yes, men can get breast cancer too. And men should be aware of the signs and symptoms. “The shock and awe of hearing you have breast cancer is a game-changer. Most men don’t know they can get breast cancer; they don’t know that breast cancer can kill them. Men don’t tend to go to the doctor as often as women, or check themselves for early warning signs. They’re being diagnosed at the later stages because they didn’t know about those warning signs, because society never taught us to look for those warning signs … I came from a place of embarrassment to now having a feeling of empowerment.
“Now, you can’t shut me up about breast cancer,” Michael says.
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