'I thought men couldn't get breast cancer'

IT IS a disease at the top of the female health agenda, its campaign colour is pink and thousands of women across Scotland fall victim to it.

So when Craig Douglas went to his GP to investigate a sore lump in his chest, the last thing the 43-year-old expected it to be was breast cancer.

The chef from Meadowbank was stunned when doctors delivered the news that he was fighting a condition which he thought he could never get.

But far from shrinking into a cocoon of embarrassment, the keen rugby player now wants to raise awareness of the illness in men and help raise money to support research. As well as encouraging Lothians men to get any chest lumps checked out, he wants to improve the treatment phase for males. And he has helped convince his teammates at Murrayfield Wanderers Rugby Club to sport a breast cancer logo on their shirts.

Fortunately for Craig, the lump was detected early enough to be controlled by daily hormone medication, which he will remain on for

six months, and he has so far avoided the need for chemotherapy or surgery.

He said: "It was after a weekend I had been out with the guys from the rugby club and I had a real pain in my chest.

"I assumed it was just a bump, but when I found the lump and told a friend's wife - who's a nurse - she said I had to get it checked out.

"My first reaction was 'don't be stupid, men can't get it' but I ended up at the breast clinic at the Western General."

He added: "Being honest, going into a waiting room that Tuesday morning in February with 40 or 50 women was the worst part of the experience, I wasn't even worried about what news I might get.

"It was like the cowboy walking into the saloon bar. The pianist stopped, everyone stopped talking and just stared at me, I could feel my head burning. What was I, a man, doing in this place?

"Then I was called in and had to undergo a mammography, which is degrading for women, let alone a man.

"The questionnaire you fill out beforehand is 85 per cent aimed at women, asking you questions a male couldn't possibly answer.

"I just think it's got to change, whether it's seeing men first thing in the morning or last thing at night so no-one else is around, because I could easily have walked out and not gone for the treatment."

However, he persevered with the experience, and now wants to boost the profile of the male version of the disease.

This will start with a walk up Ben Nevis at the end of next month with his two friends Davy Young, 53, a sales worker from Craiglockhart and 40-year-old Darren McMillan, a joiner from Craigleith.

"They've been my rock," added Craig, who is single. "In times like this you really work out who your real friends are, and they couldn't do enough.

"As soon as it happened they were shocked and sympathetic, which hasn't been everyone's reaction.

"I think it's through ignorance, but a lot of people find it funny and make jokes, and I don't suspect for a minute there's any malice in it, but it's not what you want.

"Those two have always been quick to say 'come-on, this is cancer we are talking about here' and then people realise.

"The Ben Nevis walk is something we're hoping to make an annual event, and it's as much about raising awareness as raising money.

"We've chosen Breast Cancer Care as the charity."

Although it is highly unlikely Craig's illness was lifestyle- related, it has given him a push to improve his health.

He freely admits he had put weight on of late, and wants to use the experience to turnaround his levels of activity.

"I've got to take hormones which are really aimed at women, except the side-effects, rather than bringing on the menopause and hot flushes, are mouth ulcers and mood swings," he added.

"But my work at the Mitre have been great, and they've even given me 250 towards the charity. I just want to encourage other men not to let this go unnoticed, because as a cancer it could easily spread into the lungs or bones.

"I'd happily give advice to anyone who thinks they're in that situation because I've been through it and know what it's like. It can be a terrifying time.

"It's important to realise this isn't simply a disease which can affect your mother, sister, wife or daughter."

A spokeswoman for the charity said it was important to highlight that men are also at risk of breast cancer.

"Many people are unaware that men can develop breast cancer because they do not think of men as having breasts. In fact, both men and women have breast tissue.

"It may be disappointing and frustrating to find that most information available on breast cancer is specific to women. For example, much of the information talks about practical issues such as bras after surgery or the menopause after chemotherapy.

"It is important that any information received is accurate."

To contribute to Craig's Ben Nevis fundraising hike visit www.justgiving.com/cd43.

Disease that affects both genders

ALTHOUGH overwhelmingly associated with women, breast cancer affects around 400 men in the UK every year.

One person has died from it in the Lothians in the past two years, the same number as testicular cancer fatalities - a disease which gets much more exposure.

Famous people to have been hit by the illness include former Kiss drummer Peter Criss, who described how "my heart hit my stomach and my knees buckled" when he got the diagnosis.

There is not much difference between symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the disease in either gender. The causes are also largely the same, namely family history, exposure to radiation and high levels of oestrogen.

Teams get shirty

WHEN officials at Murrayfield Wanderers Rugby Club heard of their member's plight, they quickly moved to show support.

As well as arranging a host of fundraising activities, including an event on Saturday night, the club wanted to make a more visual gesture.

The club now sports a logo for the Breast Cancer Care charity on shirts for all teams.

Mr Douglas' friend and former club coach Davy Young said: "We wanted to take it further than just organising events.

"Sometimes guys in the opposition ask why we've got a pink logo on our shirt, but once we explain they think it's a good idea.

"Of course, the women's teams were absolutely up for it as well."