Derek B - Interview 24
After his diagnosis of breast cancer he had to wait three months to have his mastectomy because of breathing problems. He then had radiotherapy over a six week period. He then had tamoxifen which caused him to gain weight.
Derek is a part-time receptionist. He is divorced and has 2 adult children. Ethnic background' White British (English).
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While Derek was seeing his doctor about a breathing problem, he mentioned that he had been having an intermittent itching around his nipple over the previous month or so. The GP immediately commented that men can get breast cancer, which Derek hadn’t realised before. Within two weeks of seeing the GP, he had had a biopsy which confirmed that he had breast cancer. Unfortunately, he then had to wait for 3 months before he could have his mastectomy because his breathing problems prevented him from having an anaesthetic. Derek had had an embolism in his lung about 15 months earlier and continues to be on Warfarin.
Derek mentioned the itchiness that had developed in his nipple whilst seeing his doctor for unrelated health problems. He arranged for an appointment to be 'on the safe side'.
Derek mentioned the itchiness that had developed in his nipple whilst seeing his doctor for unrelated health problems. He arranged for an appointment to be 'on the safe side'.
Well yeah I mean it was, it was so unusual in actual fact I mean I didn’t even have an inkling of anything and I was going to the doctors, ‘cos I’ve got a breathing problem, and I’d gone to him for that, and whilst we were there I said to him, “This is a bit embarrassing but...” I said, “my nipple itches”. So, and I said, “It doesn’t seem natural”. So, I mean he immediately said, “Well you realise men can get breast cancer?” So I said, “Well, yes and no” sort of thing. So he said, “I think we ought to do a biopsy”. So within a fortnight he organised for me to go and have a biopsy and a week after that they called me and said, “Yes it was definitely positive”. So, then they wanted to organise the operation but unfortunately because of my breathing they wouldn’t allow me to take the anaesthetic, so I had to wait for three months.
Derek did not feel any sense of fear when he got his diagnosis, although he did wonder what going into hospital and having an anaesthetic would be like.
Derek did not feel any sense of fear when he got his diagnosis, although he did wonder what going into hospital and having an anaesthetic would be like.
And you never had any of that kind of sense of fear about your breast cancer at all?
Derek wished that he had been warned that he might put weight on whilst taking tamoxifen so that he could have tried to 'combat' it from the start.
Derek wished that he had been warned that he might put weight on whilst taking tamoxifen so that he could have tried to 'combat' it from the start.
I started the tamoxifen even before I had the radio [therapy], virtually I think, I think it was almost you know, as soon, soon after I came out of hospital and that really. ‘Cos I said to him recently when I, I saw him, what did I see him? ...about a couple of months ago, and I did say to him, I said about putting on the weight and that, so he said, “Oh well” he said “it is fault, or it’s a side track of tamoxifen that you put on weight”. So I said, “Well how long am I going to have to take this?” So he said, “Well, I think it will be five years”. So I said, “Well I hope I don’t go carrying on putting on weight at the same pace (laugh)…, ‘cos otherwise” I said, “I’ll be as big as a house”. But you know, I think it’s just a question of now being sensible and realising what’s happening and sort of trying to combat it with the diet side of it.
Derek had been to a breast cancer centre but tried not to go too often because he felt a bit self-conscious about asking for things.
Derek had been to a breast cancer centre but tried not to go too often because he felt a bit self-conscious about asking for things.
So did you get any offer of support, you know going to a support group or anything like that?
Derek never thought, when he mentioned his itching nipple to his doctor whilst seeing him about his breathing problem, that he could have breast cancer.
Derek never thought, when he mentioned his itching nipple to his doctor whilst seeing him about his breathing problem, that he could have breast cancer.
I mean it was, it was so unusual in actual fact I mean I didn’t even have an inkling of anything and I was going to the doctors, ‘cos I’ve got a breathing problem, and I’d gone to him for that, and whilst we were there I said to him, “This is a bit embarrassing but” I said, “my nipple itches”. So, and I said, “It doesn’t seem natural”. So, I mean he immediately said, “Well you realise men can get breast cancer?” So I said, “Well, yes and no” sort of thing.
Derek doesn't feel strongly about what breast cancer in men should be called. He has never felt embarrassed to say that he has breast cancer rather than chest cancer.
Derek doesn't feel strongly about what breast cancer in men should be called. He has never felt embarrassed to say that he has breast cancer rather than chest cancer.
Some of the other men that we’ve spoken to had a bit of an issue about, how, what, you know, men’s breast cancer should be called, I don’t know if you’ve got any views on that at all?
Derek feels he would be far more self-conscious of his changed body image if he was a younger man.
Derek feels he would be far more self-conscious of his changed body image if he was a younger man.
And to a certain extent, I mean I know it’s totally different for a woman, but my next door neighbour actually had it five years ago, so, you know I can sort of relate and talk to her about it you know, and she doesn’t mind talking about it. She’s just going through reconstruction, and I made the comment with the surgeon and said, I said about you know, “It looks odd”. So he said “We don’t do reconstruction for men” (laugh). So I said, “No, I’m sure you don’t, but I said, it would be nice to lose enough weight so that it wasn’t obvious”, but, when, when you are on the big side, then, you know, as a man you’ve still got a bit of a bust, so (laugh). But yeah that’s just one of these things and it’s a bit of vanity I suppose really.