when diagnosed early, male breast cancer extremely curable, says bc cancer
when diagnosed early, male breast cancer is extremely curable. that’s why helping people of all genders understand that men can in fact be diagnosed with breast cancer is crucial.
jan 7 2020
4 minute read
laurie rix, wife of late broadcast legend neil macrae, explains how the two were blindsided by the diagnosis he got in 2015: male breast cancer.
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this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
by g.m. johnson
neil macrae was a broadcast legend, a sportscaster with strong opinions. the late vancouver radio personality was known for his on-air rants, and he was often described as cranky. off-air, he was genuine and caring, says laurie rix, his partner of close to 14 years.
“he was somebody who was very giving and very generous with his friends,” rix says. “he wasn’t as controversial or outspoken in his real life; that was his professional manner. he would say, ‘i don’t care if they love me or hate me, as long as they listen to me.’”
a true professional, macrae passed away in 2017 at age 65 while asleep at the couple’s home in palm springs. although he died of a pulmonary embolism, he was a cancer survivor. it’s this disease that rix wants to raise awareness of now. she explains the two were blindsided by the diagnosis he got in 2015: male breast cancer.
“randomly one day, he said he had a weird lump on his chest and said ‘what do you think this is?’” rix recalls. “i felt it and was quite alarmed. but breast cancer never crossed our minds because he’s a man. we thought it was probably a cyst or something.
“his doctor wasn’t overly concerned either but said we should have it checked out to be on the safe side,” she adds. “it was a big shock. cancer is tough news to get but to get a rare cancer for a man, we were beyond shocked.”
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between 10 and 30 new cases of breast cancer in men are diagnosed each year in b.c., according to bc cancer. the disease in men is sometimes diagnosed at more advanced stages than in women, possibly because of men ignoring symptoms like a lump in breast tissue.
men who develop breast cancer may have inherited a gene mutation that increases their risk. that was the case for macrae: he had inherited the brca 2 mutation gene, which made him more susceptible to breast and prostate cancer, both of which he developed.
as rix looks back on her beloved partner’s life, she can’t help but be motivated to help shine a light in this underrecognized illness.
“just like there are no stupid questions, there are no stupid reasons to go to a doctor if you notice something different,” rix says. “the whole point for me to share this very personal story is the hope that men realize they can get breast cancer. neil would have liked something positive to come out of it. you need to be aware of your own body and not feel shy or embarrassed to have something checked out.”
only about 10 per cent of breast cancers are related to family history and inherited mutations, according to dr. karen gelmon, medical oncologist with bc cancer. however, she says that people with a family history of multiple cases of cancer particularly male or female breast cancer, prostate cancer, or colorectal cancer might benefit from a hereditary referral to assess risk. if there is a family member alive with cancer, it is best to test them rather than an unaffected person.
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when diagnosed early, male breast cancer is extremely curable. that’s why helping people of all genders understand that men can in fact be diagnosed with breast cancer is crucial. symptoms include dimpling of the skin of the breast, redness or swelling of the nipple, and a breast that becomes red or hot.
“men should be aware of their bodies just like women,” gelmon says. “if they get a change in their breast, crusting of their nipple, or a lump, they should show it to their family doctor. most of the time it will be nothing, but it’s important to pay attention.
“be aware,” she adds. “men have breasts. and they often forget they have breasts.”
breast cancer in men and women is essentially treated the same way. macrae had surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, with rix describing the care he received through bc cancer as excellent.
“this is the best place to have treatment,” rix says. “it really is a world-class facility with world-class treatment.”
neil’s legacy will continue to drive innovation in cancer research and treatment. laurie gave $500,000 to create the neil macrae hereditary cancer research fund, which has provided funding for research projects that include a robust analysis on how male breast cancer develops.
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providing patient-centred care is at the core of everything bc cancer does. in delivering high-quality care and conducting ground-breaking research to understand diseases like male breast cancer, bc cancer relies on the support of donors.
to learn more about supporting advances in breast cancer research and care at bc cancer visit bccancerfoundation.com/.
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of bc cancer foundation.
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