Derby dad was unaware men got breast cancer until diagnosis

Mr Sweeney will be taking part in a fashion show where "models will celebrate who they've become and reflect on their experiences with breast cancer"

A dad who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer wants to spread awareness that men can get the disease.

Geoff Sweeney, from Derby, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020 after discovering a lump near his left armpit, which he nearly ignored.

In November 2023, Mr Sweeney, who is 52, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.

Mr Sweeney said: "At no stage in my life did I think men could get breast cancer."

According to NHS UK, there are about 240 new cases of breast cancer for men each year, less than 1% of all breast cancer cases.

Mr Sweeney told BBC Radio Derby his mother and step mother both died of the same cancer but he was unaware men could get it, too.

'Glad I checked'

His lack of knowledge of the cancer in men nearly prevented him from seeking medical advice when he discovered a 3cm lump near his left armpit in 2020.

"It was only when I fell off a climbing wall and I bruised my chest when I was forced to check myself and found a lump", said Mr Sweeney.

"Being a typical bloke, it wasn't painful and I thought it was nothing to worry about and that it would just go away. I had a thought where I should ask to the doctor to check out the lump whilst I was there for something else, thank god I did."

"If I had left it, it would have probably finished me off a lot sooner than it's going to now."

"As men we always think of ourselves as the providers, the strong and invincible ones and the ones to always be there for our family. Suddenly I was in a very vulnerable position where my family were upset, but I say a problem shared is a problem aired."

Mr Sweeney said he was in "so much pain" when he received his second diagnosis

Mr Sweeney's initial treatment after his diagnosis in September 2020, which included chemotherapy and radiotherapy, was successful.

After experiencing severe pain which affected his ability to walk, sit and lie down, Mr Sweeney underwent a CT scan which revealed the cancer had returned and spread to his spine and lungs.

"I was in so much pain when I was secondly diagnosed, however, the chemotherapy has shrunk my tumours by 50% so I have been in a different place than I was."

Mr Sweeney hopes that more can be done to include and support men living with breast cancer.

"Breast cancer is seen as a very pink, female-exclusive disease, and quite rightly so, compared with the number of women that get diagnosed every year, but we all have breast tissue", he said.

To raise awareness, Mr Sweeney is taking part in "The Show" by the charity Breast Cancer Now, where he will be on a catwalk alongside 24 other models who are all living with or beyond breast cancer.

Mr Sweeney added: "The fashion show is my own milestone where I'll be with the other models, if that's what they want to call me.

"If all of this makes one person go and get themselves checked out, then I've done my job.

"Men, you are not too important to put yourself first."