Alan - Interview 18

More about me...
Alan knew that men could get breast cancer and when he noticed his nipple inverting while on holiday, he knew that he had to see his GP as soon as he returned home. When he received his diagnosis he wanted to know what was to be done and wanted it dealt with quickly. However, his wife was devastated.
Alan saw his inverted nipple while on a cruise. He thought there was no point seeing the ship's...

Alan saw his inverted nipple while on a cruise. He thought there was no point seeing the ship's...
Well I had no idea I had got anything wrong with me. I was fit as a lark to ice skating, gym, we were on holiday and Caribbean cruise. And we had a balcony, and I came off the balcony, I was in shorts obviously, and there was fortunately a mirror in front of me and I thought, that’s a bit odd. Anyway, first examination was, the nipple was inverted.
After one of his sessions of chemotherapy Alan noticed he had a high temperature and was...
After one of his sessions of chemotherapy Alan noticed he had a high temperature and was...
Alan was told he needed a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but he did query his need...
Alan was told he needed a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but he did query his need...
So were you given a choice in your treatment?
Alan said the dearth of information about breast cancer in men made it seem solely a female...
Alan said the dearth of information about breast cancer in men made it seem solely a female...
So that’s- that’s the way, how it all happens, and that’s why I say you know, went to the pub when I’d been diagnosed, I said “right lads, task for tonight is to feel your nipples”. They said, “What do you mean?” I explained it and one or two guys said, “Ooh, ooh”. I said “when you get home, have a quiet feel, I mean I hope there’s nobody here”, I said,” cause it’s a very low percentage of people have it, but if I stop one more person having a problem I’ve done you know, I’ve done my job shall we say”. So it’s quite interesting. And how one of the lads have said, it was a shock, again one lad said ‘I didn’t know you could get breast cancer’. I said ‘well, you know, we’re only slightly different from women you know.
Alan had been introduced to a support officer at the hospital in case he wanted to talk to her.
Alan had been introduced to a support officer at the hospital in case he wanted to talk to her.
Were you offered at the time, any support such as going to support group or speaking to someone else about it?
Alan thinks that people shouldnt pussyfoot around in talking about breast cancer.
Alan thinks that people shouldnt pussyfoot around in talking about breast cancer.
When we started doing this study we were using the term “male breast cancer”, I was just wondering if you had any opinion on that term?