For decades, breast cancer has been portrayed as a women’s disease – but men have breast tissue too, and breast cancer in men is a reality they are dying from because nobody told them.
When an elderly man walked into a medical facility complaining of persistent shoulder pain, nobody suspected breast cancer. Not the patient. Not his family. Not even the doctor who first examined him. But the shocking diagnosis that followed revealed a devastating truth: breast cancer does not discriminate, and men are being diagnosed too late because they simply never see it coming.
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“One Sunday at church, an elderly neighbour complained of persistent pain in his right shoulder. I advised his son to take him for medical examination. None of us imagined the pain was linked to breast cancer,” recalls Dr Dennis Bortey, Medical Director at Swan Medical Center. Medical tests later confirmed the devastating diagnosis—the cancer had spread from the man’s breast tissue to the bones in his shoulder. What appeared to be ordinary shoulder pain turned out to be advanced breast cancer that had already metastasised.
Why men ignore the warning signs
The question many men ask when diagnosed is heartbreakingly simple: “Breast cancer, isn’t that a woman’s disease?” For decades, awareness campaigns, pink ribbons, and public health conversations have focused overwhelmingly on women. This common perception has created a dangerous blind spot that costs lives.
While breast cancer in men is rare, it is not impossible. Men possess breast tissue and can develop the disease, but the pervasive misconception that it is exclusively a women’s condition leads many to dismiss warning signs until it is too late. According to Dr Bortey, delayed diagnosis remains one of the biggest challenges in treating male breast cancer.
“By the time many men seek medical attention, the disease has already reached an advanced stage,” he warns. Beyond the physical effects, male patients often face stigma and isolation because breast cancer is widely regarded as a “woman’s disease,” making them reluctant to speak up or seek help.
Warning signs every man should know
Health experts urge men to be vigilant and recognise the early symptoms of breast cancer. Common warning signs include:
A painless lump in the breast tissue
- Swelling in the armpit area
- Changes to the breast skin, including redness or dimpling
- Nipple discharge
- An inverted or turned-in nipple
While these symptoms may not always indicate cancer, they should never be ignored. Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment, yet many men dismiss these signs because they never consider themselves at risk.
The stigma that kills
Perhaps the most tragic aspect of breast cancer in men is the social isolation patients endure. Because breast cancer is so strongly associated with women, men often feel embarrassed to discuss their diagnosis or seek support. This stigma can lead to depression, anxiety, and delayed treatment.
Health professionals emphasise that breast cancer does not discriminate – it can affect both women and men. Recognising the signs early could mean the difference between life and death.
Their message is simple but urgent: if you notice any changes in your chest area, see a doctor immediately.
Your gender does not make you immune.
By Okyere Konadu Ewuradjoa Unikrista, University of Media Arts and Communication (unikristaokyere@gmail.com)