Bob – Interview 03
Bob was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. He had surgery but did not need to have chemotherapy or radiotherapy because it was diagnosed early. He is also diabetic and had trouble with his wound after surgery.
Bob first felt a lump whilst showering, and he and his wife both noticed that his nipple was inverted. He went to see the doctor quickly after being encouraged to do so by his wife.
He had a mastectomy, and had one lymph node removed. He was shown how to do exercises to strengthen the muscles in his arm. He has not had any problems with it since. He didn’t need to have chemotherapy or radiotherapy but took tamoxifen for five years.
Bob also has diabetes. After his operation he had trouble with his wound. His stitches were taken out too early and the wound re-opened. He had to be rushed to another room to have the wound re-clipped. He usually keeps a t-shirt or a shirt on if he is doing things so that he can keep his scar covered up because, although it has healed, he doesn’t feel it is very nice to look at.
Bob remembers his mother having breast cancer. He thought at the time that she was always at the doctors, but now he feels that it is important to check things out with his doctor if he is worried about anything. He stresses the importance of consulting the doctor with any symptoms without delay and is keen to make sure that other men realise this because men often take their bodies for granted.
He didn’t know that men could get breast cancer before he was diagnosed, and he feels that there is still a stigma associated with men having breast cancer. He was very shocked when he got his diagnosis, especially because he had been fit, and later he felt angry like he had done after his son had died. He didn’t really like telling people about his illness. His wife mostly told family and friends for him; they found that a lot of people didn’t know that men could get breast cancer. He wanted to be interviewed because he thinks it is really important for people to be better informed.
Bob and his wife were given very little information about his illness and what would happen. They found it hard to find any information and he didn’t know other people to ask. They both think that breast cancer in men needs to be more widely talked about. He got a lot of support from his wife but got less support from elsewhere, including the hospital.