Brian Place is facing a 50/50 chance of surviving the next five years as he battles cancer, and is urging other men not to "die of ignorance". The 60-year-old first discovered a lump in his left breast in 2005 but delayed seeing his GP because he believed men couldn't get breast cancer. After initially going into remission following treatment, the operations manager from Newcastle received a secondary diagnosis earlier this year when the cancer spread to his spine, pelvis and liver.
The stage 4 cancer is incurable, but Brian is managing his condition with medication and has been given a "50/50 chance of making 5 years". He is now trying to raise awareness of male breast cancer, admitting that ignorance nearly cost him his life two decades ago. He warned other men: "Don’t die of ignorance.
This is a genderless disease, check yourself and if you find anything suspicious – get it checked out straight away. Men must not be an ostrich and stick their head in the sand..
. because they really need to get the help when it’s the right time to get the help." Brian discovered a small, mobile lump in his left breast 19 years ago.
Initially, he thought it was just a cyst from a rugby injury. He waited a month before seeing his doctor and felt out of place as the only man at the breast cancer clinic. Shockingly, after his breast cancer diagnosis was confirmed, the surgeon revealed that the tumour had likely been there for about 5 or 6 years.
Brian underwent a mastectomy, radiotherapy,.
