A WIRRAL dad who was diagnosed with breast cancer is urging men to listen to their bodies and seek advice if they notice anything out of the ordinary.
Phil Alderson was shocked when told he had the disease at the age of 44. Now in remission, he is warning other men that they can get breast cancer too.
He has shared his story as part of men’s health month, Movember, to stress that early detection of the disease is vital for the chance of successful treatment.
Phil, a freelance designer, was play-fighting with his daughter at his Wirral home in July 2016 when she caught him in the chest with her elbow.
Later that night, whilst watching television, the same spot on his chest was uncomfortable, and he now felt a small lump behind his left nipple.
He initially hesitated and wanted to brush it off as a bruise or lingering pain from play fighting, but the lump concerned him and led to him calling his GP practice.
Phil's GP reassured him he had done the right thing and arranged for him to undergo a series of scans, as well as a biopsy and mammogram. But it was after this appointment Phil received the diagnosis of Stage Two breast cancer.
Phil recalled: “The feeling of being told I had cancer will stay with me forever.
"I joke that men are renowned for doing nothing and convincing themselves anything untoward will go away on its own, but I felt like I needed to get this lump checked for my own peace of mind.
“I told my partner at the time I was just going to get some back pain looked at because I didn’t want to make a fuss or worry anyone.”
Looking back on the diagnosis, Phil said: "The feeling of being told I had cancer will stay with me forever.
"I didn’t know what to do with myself, so started sharing updates on Facebook as a way to express all the emotion and start conversations with others to encourage them to check themselves for symptoms."
Mastectomy surgery in August 2016 followed Phil’s diagnosis, including a sentinel node biopsy, with Phil coming to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to receive his isotope dye before the procedure.
This harmless blue dye is injected into the area near the cancer and travels to the sentinel nodes, staining them bright blue, and clinicians are able to tell whether the cancer cells have broken away from where they started and spread to the lymph nodes.
Fortunately, surgery was successful and Phil was given the positive news that the cancer had not spread.
His openness with what he had gone through and his own need to ask for mental health support led to advocacy work, including training as a peer supporter for others going through the same, and contributing to a book of 72 survivor stories.
He said: "Sometimes I needed to speak with Clatterbridge’s counsellor, and other times all I wanted was to sit in the garden at Maggie’s with a coffee."
Maggie’s is a drop-in centre at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral where patients and their families can receive free practical, emotional and psychological support.
Phil is eager to signpost people to local help like this and continues to raise awareness.
A turning point for Phil came in 2019, when a modelling agency featured him in a campaign with his mastectomy scar on show, leading to work with brands such as Specsavers.
He said: "I try to think positively that none of this would have happened without my diagnosis. But it's also a reminder not to wait until a health scare to live your life to the fullest.
"Be brave, start something new, say yes to everything.
"If you notice a change in your body, regardless of gender, get it checked out.
"You know what’s normal and not normal for you – listen to your body. Early detection truly is key. Chances are it’s nothing, but it’s always better to be sure."
For more details about breast cancer in men, click here or to find out more about the support Maggie’s Wirral can offer, click here
You can also contact Phil directly for support if you are going through a male breast cancer diagnosis via his website
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