October 18th 2024.
Reuben and his mother, Glenda, went to the hospital for his first mammogram. Upon arriving, Reuben noticed that people were giving him strange looks and even one of the nurses seemed to question why he was there. It was a bit unsettling for him, especially since he had already faced skepticism about his cancer diagnosis in the past.
Reuben had come to realize that not only is breast cancer rare in men, but many people are also unaware that it can affect them. He often found himself educating others about his experience with the disease, hoping to spread awareness and understanding.
It all started in November 2022 when Reuben was working on a building site and noticed a lump in his chest. At first, he thought it might just be a bruise from squeezing past some blocks, but when it didn't go away after a week, he became concerned. Breast cancer had crossed his mind, as it ran in his family, but he wasn't sure if men could get it too. A quick internet search confirmed that they could.
The doctor at his local health center initially dismissed Reuben's concerns and told him to monitor the lump and come back in two weeks. When he returned, the doctor finally acknowledged that breast cancer was a possibility and referred Reuben for a mammogram. The results of the mammogram, along with a subsequent ultrasound and needle biopsy, confirmed his fears - he had breast cancer.
At the age of 52, Reuben was in disbelief. He had always been fairly fit and couldn't understand how he could have breast cancer. But his shock turned to horror when a second biopsy revealed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes under his right arm. This meant that his initial plan for a mastectomy in January had to be postponed, as he now needed chemotherapy first.
The oncologist was kind and understanding, but her words still hit hard. If the cancer had spread further, it would have been stage four and much harder to treat. The thought of only being able to manage the disease was devastating for Reuben and his mother, who was with him at the appointment. The biopsy itself had been unpleasant, and now with the added prospect of chemotherapy, Reuben was more anxious than ever.
In February, a CT scan revealed a dark shadow on Reuben's lung, which required another biopsy. The 10-day wait for the results was agonizing, but they came back negative. His oncologist attributed the shadow to Reuben's history of smoking and advised him to quit if he didn't want to see her again. He took her advice seriously and immediately stopped smoking.
Reuben's treatment plan included six rounds of chemotherapy, spaced three weeks apart, starting in March 2023. This meant that he would be unable to work for much longer than he had anticipated, which was a financial burden as a self-employed individual. Luckily, Reuben's parents offered for him to stay with them during his treatment, but it was hard for him to leave his home of 14 years.
Living with his parents, who were in their seventies and set in their ways, was an adjustment for Reuben. But he appreciated having his own space and even his 23-year-old son, Freddie, referred to it as the "cancer hostel" and stayed with Reuben for a while.
The first round of chemotherapy was grueling for Reuben. He felt weak and sick for about a week afterwards and lost a lot of weight. But as the treatments went on, he noticed that they weren't as traumatic and the side effects weren't as severe. By the time he finished in June, he was relieved to be done with chemotherapy.
Reuben's mastectomy was rescheduled for August and went smoothly. However, a few weeks later, the scar became infected and burst, requiring Reuben to have it drained. This was the most difficult part of his journey so far, after being told he had cancer.
Reuben has since made a full recovery and has become an advocate for breast cancer awareness, especially in men. He encourages everyone to regularly check for signs and symptoms of breast cancer using the "TLC" approach - touch and look for anything new or unusual on their chest. By sharing his story, Reuben hopes to educate others and spread awareness about this disease that can affect anyone, regardless of gender.
Reuben and his mum, Glenda, had quite the experience with his first mammogram. As they arrived at the hospital, Reuben couldn't help but notice the curious looks from the people around him. It was as if they were wondering what a man was doing in a place predominantly filled with women. One of the nurses even seemed to question his presence with a skeptical expression on her face.
To make matters more confusing, in one of the letters from the hospital, Reuben was referred to as 'her'. This only added to his frustration, as he had encountered similar disbelief when disclosing his cancer diagnosis in the past. It was a stark reminder that not only is breast cancer uncommon in men, but also that there is a lack of awareness about it.
Reuben couldn't help but share his story with others in the hopes of spreading awareness about male breast cancer. It all started back in November 2022 when he was working on a building site and noticed a lump in his chest. At first, he thought it might just be a bruise from squeezing past some blocks, but when it didn't go away after a week, he knew it was something more serious.
The thought of breast cancer crossed his mind as he had a family history of it - his aunt had battled it and his great aunt had sadly passed away from it. He wasn't even sure if men could get breast cancer, but a quick internet search confirmed that they can. When he mentioned his concerns to the doctor at his local health center, he was initially dismissed and told to keep an eye on it for two weeks. But when he returned, the doctor finally acknowledged the possibility of breast cancer and referred Reuben for a mammogram.
The results of the mammogram, ultrasound, and needle biopsy confirmed Reuben's fear - he did indeed have breast cancer. At just 52 years old and always being fairly fit, Reuben couldn't believe it. The news only got worse when a second biopsy revealed that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes under his right arm. His scheduled mastectomy in January was cancelled as he now needed chemotherapy first.
Meeting with the oncologist was a nerve-wracking experience for Reuben and his family. The doctor was kind and compassionate, but hearing that his cancer may have progressed to stage four and could only be managed was a heavy blow. Reuben's mother couldn't help but burst into tears, and the thought of undergoing chemotherapy only added to his worries.
In February, a CT scan showed a dark shadow on Reuben's lung, and he had to undergo another biopsy. The 10-day wait for the results was agonizing, but to his relief, they came back negative. The oncologist attributed the shadow to Reuben's history of smoking and advised him to quit if he didn't want to see her again. He took her advice to heart and immediately quit smoking.
Reuben's initial treatment plan included six rounds of chemotherapy, three weeks apart, starting in March 2023. As a self-employed individual, this meant that he would be unable to work for a longer period than he had anticipated. With no income, he worried about his rent and was grateful when his parents offered for him to stay with them until his treatment was over. It was a tough decision to leave his home of 14 years, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to save money and have his own space in his parents' large house.
His 23-year-old son, Freddie, even jokingly referred to it as the "cancer hostel" and stayed with Reuben for a bit. The first round of chemo hit Reuben hard, leaving him feeling weak and unable to do much for a week. He lost a lot of weight and looked pale and sickly. But as he went through subsequent rounds, the side effects were not as severe, and he even noticed a smaller dosage being administered.
After finishing chemo in June, Reuben's mastectomy was rescheduled for August. The surgery went well, but a few weeks later, the scar got infected and burst, requiring Reuben to have his chest drained of fluid. This was the worst part for him after being told he had cancer.
In the midst of his own journey, Reuben wanted to spread awareness about checking for signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Now recommends the 'TLC' approach - touch, look, and check. Reuben urges everyone, regardless of gender, to regularly check their chests for any changes such as lumps, swelling, rash, or changes in size or shape of the breast. Early detection is crucial in the fight against cancer.
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