My left breast

[Lisa Gerrie]

While I was growing up I had a nickel-sized thickness under my left nipple. I think it started in puberty, and it bugged me for a long time. This was pre-internet. In my late teens I finally asked my dad (an MD) whether or not men get breast cancer. He said that it was very rare, examined me, and told me he was sure it was nothing to worry about; I should let him know about any changes; what's for dinner?

It continued to bug me for a secret reason. While part of my stash of girl's clothes had been found a few years earlier, my parents were not aware that I had ongoing gender identity issues. I became convinced that there was something different about me (duh!) and it was more likely than Dr. Dad thought that I had breast cancer. It might even be probable, and nothing would be done if I didn't fess up to my continued crossdressing.

I never did tell anybody the real reason. At age 19 I basically broke down and insisted on having surgery to remove it. The hospital records say "simple mastectomy, left". I don't know why a biopsy wasn't done first, and I don't think lumpectomies had been invented yet, or maybe the small rural hospital didn't have the expertise.

It was benign. I still have a six-inch scar, and that side of my chest has very little tissue. No feeling in that nipple or areola. I've always been self-conscious at the beach, but other than that it has not really affected my life.

I feel a kinship with women that have worried about -- or actually had -- breast cancer. But as a male I feel guilty about the comparison, because I grok that it's just not the same. I'm a mild-mannered, middle-aged crossdresser with no aspirations of becoming female. Breast forms are a happy upgrade for me, but a heart-wrenching downgrade for any GG or M2F transexual.

Not sure why I felt like sharing this. Funny the things that surface when you think about important stuff.

[StarrOfDelite]

I've never known a man who had breast cancer, but it does happen. A female acquaintance of mine told me that she dated a man who was diagnosed with the disease, and that the psychological implications of having a feminine disease caused him to become depressed and impotent.

[Beverley Sims]

As you read through this forum Mich, all sorts of memories and situations come flooding back.
If you asked me to tell of my life as a girl it would have filled half a letter sized page.
Now it would be 5 foolscap pages an then some.
So nothing weird in mentioning your benign lump.
Some will find it interesting to comment on.
I can only say that men who grow breast tissue after HRT do get examined for breast cancer.

[EllieOPKS]

Breast cancer in men is very real but somewhat rare. I think it would be better received if it was called chest cancer but who am I? I had a lump in my chest and had to have a mammogram. Turned out OK , thank goodness. Men should be aware that a lump in the chest is something to take seriously.

[LilSissyStevie]

Your story reminded me of when I was going through puberty. I got lumps in both breasts that were walnut sized and sore like you wouldn't believe. Wearing a shirt was torture and not wearing one wasn't an option. I was convinced that a) I was turning into a "hermaphrodite" or b) I had cancer and was going to die. Even at that age I knew (a) was a longshot so I became convinced it was (b). Even then I was too embarrassed to tell anyone about it. Finally I became panicked enough to tell a nurse about it. She laughed (bitch!) and told me it was fairly common in boys my age. I didn't mind being wrong, in fact I was happy about that but if it wasn't (b) why couldn't it have been (a) ?:daydreaming:

[sandra-leigh]

What you describe is quite common, but in most males it disappears again within a year, 2 at the outside. But it does stay longer in fraction. Dr. Dad was likely correct that it was nothing to worry about.

I had the same thing, and had it checked; the doctor said it was nothing to worry about. At that point I stopped bothering to check prod it every couple of days, just from time to time; until one day I realized it wasn't there anymore.

Prevalence: on the order of 48% to 64% (http://www.ccjm.org/content/71/6/511.full.pdf) of teenage boys.

[DonnaT]

I had a similar lump. It finally went away one day, couldn't tell you when.

[mikiSJ]

I found a lump next to my right nipple earlier this year and went to Stanford to rule out a tumor. Listen girls, you don't want to get a mammogram. I fully appreciate what my wife has told me about them in the past. I am barely an "A" so there wasn't much to squish.

Fortunately the lump was nothing but the extremely professional female doctor did not mock me because I was a male and explained that about 2-3% of the breast cancer patients she sees are men - and most of these men have waited to long to "man-up" and see a doctor.

When I was in high school two of my male classmates had adoloscent male gynecomastia and were tormented beyond belief. Be careful what you wish for,

[Nikki A.]

My BIL had breast cancer. Caught it early and he is fine

[Lisa Gerrie]

Sandra, thanks so much for that link. I thought I knew exactly what gynecomastia was, but it's not what I thought. It's not man-boobs. That article even describes the left-side prevalence. (To me, it was a symbol of being half female.)

[Amanda M]

Any breast abnormality in the male MUST be checked out EARLY- breast cancer in men is not as rare as some people think!

Because of male hangups, male breast cancer is often left undiagnosed until it is at an advanced stage. Don't risk it!

[Jennaristow]

I too had a lump, but under left breast. I was very self conscious even though I had gender issues back then.
I was in the navy back then stationed in Hawaii and thought every one was staring at me at the beach.
I had it removed, now that I am transitioning I will not get breast development in my left breast without breast augmentation ad they removed the breast bud.
Now it is even more awkward as my right breast develops and the left does not.
I have to wait at least a year and a half to get augmentation on the left breast.

[BillieJoEllen]

I need to get a mammogram every year. About 12-13 years ago I had a malignant lump removed. Since that time everything has been fine. It is a bit odd sitting in the same room with women all waiting to get a mammogram. The newer machines don't squeeze near as bad as they used to but I still don't like it. Before my surgery I always wanted to experience anything and everything that a real woman experienced. I could of easily skipped that part.

[busker]

Breast cancer in men is very real that a lump in the chest is something to take seriously[/B].

There were about 6500 reported cases of male breast cancer last year, so yes, it is real, and it is life-threatening. The odd thing is that maybe as many have double mastectomies due to gynecomastia, which seems to be a real deal breaker with a lot of wives according to gynecomastia.org

[me]

interesting that they never did a biopsy to see what it was.