Man diagnosed with breast cancer embraces his scars in photoshoot campaign
A man who was diagnosed with breast cancer has taken part in a photoshoot campaign to highlight the “gritty and raw reality” of the disease.
Steve McAllister, 67, was given the news in 2010.
"I knew men could get breast cancer, but you certainly don't think it will affect you. It sort of was a weird sensation being told that I had breast cancer", he told ITV News.
During his stay at hospital, Steve said he found it challenging to access male facilities on the breast cancer ward.
"There were no leaflets pertaining to men, it was all geared up for women. I couldn't go on to a normal breast cancer ward because there were no male facilities there, so I went onto a general surgical ward for men. I was treated quite differently from that point of view", he said.
Research by Cancer Research suggests about 390 men are diagnosed each year in the UK.
This compares to around 54,800 cases in women.
Photographer Ami Barwell, who shot the images, said that the project was an “act of rebellion”.
She said that “Cancer isn’t pretty, it can be dark, painful and destructive. But we aren’t playing to cancer’s rules. These people are strong, beautiful and, most of all, defiant.”
Despite the difficulties he has faced along the way, Steve said, “I’ve completely embraced my scar, it’s as much a part of my body as my arm or my leg. Stand Up To Cancer is all about showing cancer who’s boss and I really channelled that when taking part in this shoot.”
Steve said taking part in the photoshoot has given him the confidence to be proud of who he is and he is urging people who may be concerned about their health to visit their GP.
What are thesymptoms of breast cancer?
The most common symptom for men with breast cancer is a lump in the breast area. This is nearly always painless.
Some other symptoms include:
oozing from the nipple (a discharge) that may be blood stained
swelling of the breast
a sore (ulcer) in the skin of the breast
a nipple that is pulled into the breast (called nipple retraction)
lumps under the arm
a rash on or around the nipple