Man With a Painful Lump In His Chest Says He Thought Chest Pains Were ‘Gas,’ After Undergoing Tests, He Learns He Had Stage 2 Breast Cancer

“I was lying in the bed, it got really bad, and I was trying to stretch and move any way I could to work it out,” Reed told WXII News.

Seeking answers, Reed went to the hospital for testing. But the results were inconclusive, and the lump remained. That’s when his concern turned into urgency.

“That scared me, because at that point I was thinking that caused the chest pain,” he said. “When I told my wife, she made me immediately contact my doctor.”

His doctor ordered additional imaging, including an ultrasound and a mammogram, a test usually performed to screen for breast cancer. The results confirmed what Reed never imagined: stage 2 breast cancer.

WATCH: Early Stage Breast Cancer: What to Know About Testing

“I’ve met a lot of men who did not know they could get breast cancer, and I myself had no clue,” Reed said.

The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. Reed underwent radiation therapy and a double mastectomy, a procedure that removed both breast tissues. A follow-up surgery was performed to reduce the risk of recurrence.

“Now I can tell my story at these events, and to be able to share my story has been a blessing both to me and other people,” he said.

Reed’s experience highlights a critical gap in public awareness. While breast cancer in men is rare—only about 2,800 cases are expected this year compared to nearly 298,000 in women—it can be just as serious. According to the National Cancer Institute, men should also be vigilant about changes in their chest, including lumps, swelling, or discomfort.

Unlike women, who are routinely screened through mammograms and taught to perform self-exams, men often lack the same education and awareness. Reed hopes his journey will change that.

Understanding Male Breast Cancer

Like women, men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast start growing out of control, typically forming a tumor that’s felt as a lump.

 

WATCH: Men Get Breast Cancer Too

A man’s risk of developing breast cancer may be higher if there’s a history of breast cancer in the family. Typically, male breast cancer manifests as lumps in the chest area. Factors like a patient’s race can impact the prognosis. Five types of standard treatment are used to treat breast cancer in men:

• Surgery for breast cancer in men mirrors the procedure in women. A modified radical mastectomy removes the whole breast with cancer. The result may involve removing the nipple according to the National Cancer Institute.
• Chemotherapy involves cancer-killing drugs to prevent the cancer cells from growing. Chemo drugs are usually taken orally or intravenously.
• Hormone therapy involves removing hormones or blocking their ability to help cancer cells grow.
• In radiation therapy, high-energy beams such as X-rays are aimed at cancer cells to kill them.
• Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.

 

WATCH: Marc Futterweit shares his breast cancer journey.

When Marc Futterweit was told to get a mammogram by his doctor, like Roundtree, he, too, was in disbelief.

“I said, What do you mean by a mammogram?’ I don’t have breasts,” Futterweit recalled saying.

However, a second opinion from another physician confirmed Futterweit had breast cancer.

“When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t tell my wife. I thought I was holding it together,” Futterweit said.

When his family learned he was battling breast cancer, they supported him. Having a support group filled with loved ones is an important part of a cancer patient’s journey toward survivorship, according to experts SurvivorNet has spoken to.

He realized that with their support, having male breast cancer is nothing to be ashamed of.

“Men are basically standing in the shadows, they’re ashamed or embarrassed,” Futterweit says.

“Just remember, it’s nothing that you have done to cause you to get breast cancer. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s not a woman’s disease,” he continued.

Help Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.

“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.

WATCH: How to cope with complex and changing emotions.

If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.

SurvivorNet experts suggest that patients needing a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.

• Let your family and close friends know, and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support, but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
• Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
• Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
• Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.

Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams

Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual, like a lump, does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.

For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like, so if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.

In the case of men, periodically checking the chest for anything unusual or painful can help detect issues worth further exploration with your doctor.

Below are common symptoms to look out for:

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
• Any change in the size or shape of the breast
• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Skin dimpling or peeling
• Breast or nipple pain
• Nipple turning inward
• Redness or scaliness of the breast or nipple skin
• Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding)

Questions for Your Doctor

If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, whether you’re a man or a woman, here are some questions you can ask your doctor to learn more about it.

• What kind of breast cancer do I have?
• Has the cancer spread to other parts of the body?
• What stage is my cancer in?
• What other tests should I seek to better understand the cancer before deciding on treatment?
• What are your treatment recommendations and their likely side effects?
• What other doctors can give me additional opinions?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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