Man survives breast cancer after daughter's plea

Peter Firth rang a bell at the hospital to signify the end of his treatment

A grandfather who was diagnosed with breast cancer after his daughter encouraged him to see a doctor says he may not have otherwise survived.

Peter Firth, 79, from Bridlington, went on to have a double mastectomy after Rachel Firth, 48, recognised his symptoms.

Ms Firth said there needed to be more public awareness of breast cancer in men and greater awareness among medical practitioners.

She said checking for breast cancer was seen as "very female" and she feels men are "getting forgotten".

Rachel Firth says breast cancer was not "a thing that you'd ever think a man would get"

In June 2017, Mr Firth said he noticed an itch under his arm while changing.

His daughter, a pharmacy technician, noticed one of his nipples was inverted, something he had noticed but not paid much attention to. She also noticed a small lump to the side.

After seeing the doctor, the grandfather-of-three was diagnosed, had surgery and returned to work within two weeks.

His left breast was removed along with his lymph nodes and he had six months of treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

At the end of his treatment he said he was "glad" to ring a bell on the hospital wall to signal he had completed his treatment before getting the "all clear" about six months later.

Mr Firth said he never thought, as a man, breast cancer would affect him.

He said when people found out they were in disbelief.

'Everything's pink'

Ms Firth said, when her father went for a breast cancer check-up, a nurse thought he was in the wrong place and another assumed she was having a check-up.

She said: "Everything's pink. Every picture, every pamphlet, everything that is towards breast cancer has got a woman on the front."

Mr Firth was diagnosed with breast cancer again in February last year and had surgery to remove his right breast. He said he is now doing well.

He is taking part in a parachute jump and a fashion catwalk later this month to raise money for multiple charities.

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