Men Get Breast Cancer Too

By Jim Plowden

When people hear “breast cancer,” they think of women.

That assumption nearly cost me precious time. In December 2021, after a routine physical, I casually mentioned to my doctor that my left nipple was itching, and I had noticed a lump. He immediately sent me to radiology.

The receptionist looked at my chart and asked, “You’re here for a mammogram?” I replied, “No, I’m here for a man-o-gram.” He laughed, saying he had never seen a male veteran scheduled for one.

In the waiting room, a nurse technician with a big smile and Southern accent asked, “What are you here for, honey?” Again, I said, “I’m here for a man-o-gram.” As she laughed, she grabbed my chest and joked, “Honey, you don’t have enough there for me to squeeze!”

After adjusting the machine, she completed the exam and handed me a pink gift bag with a pink mug, pink ribbon pin, and a pink mask.

That man-o-gram joke carried me through the months ahead. Humor became my shield, but the reality was sobering: men get breast cancer too. And because it’s unexpected, diagnosis can be delayed, treatment options limited, and awareness dangerously low.

A Diagnosis at Christmas

Right before Christmas, my wife and I flew to Florida to visit our daughter. We still had no test results. As we landed, my phone rang—it was the VA. Amid the chaos of deplaning, I was told I had stage 2 breast cancer.

I chose not to tell my daughter during the holiday. But as calls from the VA continued, my wife and I slipped into another room to take them. Eventually, our children knew. It was a subdued Christmas.

Back in Los Angeles, the VA oncologist explained that while they performed many prostate surgeries, breast cancer surgeries were rare. Approval for outside care could take weeks. With Medicare as backup, I chose UCLA Medical Center. Within days, I was scheduled for scans and surgery.

Treatment and Humor

Surgery was uneventful, but radiation was grueling: five days a week for six weeks. My wife drove me daily. In the waiting room, people often assumed she was the patient. Their surprise when I explained I was the one receiving treatment always gave me a laugh.

Midway, my left arm swelled badly. The surgeon had removed all 12 lymph nodes from my armpit, not just the two cancerous ones, leaving me with chronic lymphedema.

In the final week, radiation intensified. To avoid damaging my heart, they X-rayed my chest before each session and mapped the target with lasers. One day, I taped a Target logo to my chest and quipped, “I’m saving you some time—here’s your target.” Humor, even in the darkest moments, kept me going.

Living With Lymphedema

Though declared cancer-free, I now live with chronic lymphedema. Compression sleeves, lymphedema pumps, and weekly therapy help, but none are permanent solutions. As a precaution, after treatments, I wear a lymphedema compression sleeve and glove daily.

It’s a reminder that cancer’s impact does not end with surgery or radiation. Survivorship comes with its own challenges.

Why Awareness Matters

Breast cancer in men is rare, but it happens. According to the American Cancer Society, about 2,800 men in the U.S. are diagnosed each year. Many delay seeking help because they don’t think breast cancer applies to them. That delay can be deadly.

My story is proof. A casual remark to my doctor led to early detection and treatment. Without it, the outcome could have been far worse.

We need greater awareness, better screening protocols, and more support for male patients. Clinics should not be labeled “Women’s Radiology” when men are also treated there. Receptionists should not be surprised when a man walks in for a mammogram. Awareness saves lives.

A Call to Action

If you’re a man and notice a lump, itch, or change in your chest—speak up. Do not dismiss it. Do not wait.

If you are a healthcare provider, remember: breast cancer does not discriminate by gender.

And if you are a policymaker or advocate, push for broader education and resources. Men deserve the same awareness, dignity, and support as women in this fight.

Closing Thought

I still joke about my “man-o-gram.” Humor helps. But beneath the laughter lies a serious truth: men get breast cancer too. My hope is that by sharing my journey, more men will recognize the signs, seek help early, and live to tell their own stories of resilience.

About Jim Plowden

Originally from Florida; now living in Los Angeles.

U.S. Air Force 1961-1965, Tactical Air Command, 822 TMS, Nuclear Weapons Specialist on Missile Launch Crew

Member of American Legion Post 177