Breast Cancer Isn't Just A Women's Issue

October is breast cancer awareness month; and although men make up only 1% of cases, they often ignore the signs until its too late. This months challenge: set a monthly reminder to perform a breast examination it could save your life.

- Kelleigh Korevaar

Ismail-Ian was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004. After fighting it and overcoming it, he went on with his life. But four years later, he felt a lump in his left breast. His doctor believed the lump was just a lipoma, a fatty deposit under the skin. But when Ismail-Ian began to feel pain, he knew something was wrong.

Because of his history with cancer, and his paranoia, he insisted on getting a biopsy – and the results confirmed his worst fears. In 2008, at age 45, IsmailIan was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.

“I believed and acted on my doctor’s advice. Besides, ‘men don’t get breast cancer’. Even though I’d read a lot about cancer while dealing with the prostate cancer, like most men I was naïve about breast cancer in men. I always thought it was silly to think that men could get breast cancer. How naive I was, back then…”