J18 — May 2009 — Male Breast Cancer

Intro: Most men know that when they head to the doctor’s office for a check-up, they’ll be screened for prostate cancer. The tests are routine. But the man you’re about to meet also has routine breast exams. Why? Because he is a breast cancer survivor.

THIS SHOP IS A WOOD WORKER'S DREAM.

"I JUST ENJOY PRODUCING A FINISHED PRODUCT."

A DREAM THAT CRAIG MCMILLAN HAD TO PUT ON HOLD WHEN HE WENT THROUGH TREATMENT FOR CANCER. BREAST CANCER.

"I WAS TAKING A SHOWER AND I NOTICED A LUMP IN MY BREAST. AND AT THE TIME I REALLY DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT."

"MEN DON'T THINK THEY CAN GET IT. AND IT'S TRUE THAT THE BIGGEST RISK FACTOR FOR BREAST CANCER IS YOUR GENDER, BEING A WOMAN. BUT MEN CAN GET BREAST CANCER."

DR. STEPHANIE HINES SAYS MALE BREAST CANCER IS FAIRLY RARE.

"BETWEEN ONE THOUSAND AND TWO THOUSAND MEN ARE EXPECTED TO GET BREAST CANCER THIS YEAR."

MANY MEN WHO DEVELOP IT DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY UNTIL THE CANCER HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE. IT'S OFTEN DIAGNOSED IN MEN AT AN ADVANCED STAGE. THAT'S WHY ALL MEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER OR THOSE WHOSE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING CARRIERS OF BCRA2, A BREAST CANCER GENE, SHOULD BE AWARE AND WATCH FOR CHANGES IN THE BREAST. LUMPS, SKIN CHANGES, NIPPLE CHANGES OR BLEEDING FROM THE NIPPLE SHOULD BE CHECKED OUT BY A DOCTOR. AND IF IT IS CANCER, MEN HAVE THE SAME TREATMENT AS WOMEN.

"I HAD BILATERAL MASTECTOMY."

THEN CHEMO AND RADIATION. AND INSTEAD OF FEELING EMBARRASSED ABOUT IT, CRAIG DEVELOPED STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH FEMALE CANCER PATIENTS.

"I BECAME BOSOM BUDDIES. I HAVE A LOT OF FEMALE FRIENDS WHO'VE CONSOLED ME AND I'VE CONSOLED THEM. I MEAN, I'M SORT OF LIKE ONE OF THE GIRLS."

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Craig's was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer. Now he's cancer-free and enjoying life and time in his wood shop.

For more information on male breast cancer, visit our Website at

STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.