Breast Cancer men get it to - Mark Doel, 42

MARK DOEL, an IT manager from Morden, Surrey, was fit and sporty when he was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, aged 37.

“The first thing I noticed was tiny blood spots on my sheets and shirts on the odd occasion – which went on for about a year. I wasn’t in pain but to put my mind at ease I went to see my GP who sent me home with plasters. He said it was likely to be rubbing from my shirt when I played badminton. A few months later, in June 2007, I was at a waterpark when a friend noticed I was bleeding quite a bit from my right nipple.

I knew I needed to get a specialist opinion. He told me he didn’t think it could be cancer and was much more likely to be a condition like eczema, but they did an ultrasound scan which didn’t show anything sinister. I also had a tissue biopsy taken, but went home thinking it couldn’t be too worrying.

When I returned for the biopsy results I saw my surgeon’s face and knew something was wrong. I was in shock, which is understandable when a man gets the double-whammy of being told he not only has cancer, but breast cancer. I called my wife, Despo, who rushed over to help me handle the news.

We were told it was a DCIS – or ductal carcinoma in situ – which was very treatable. It hadn’t spread, but I needed an op straight away.

With two young children – aged three and six – and Despo to think about, I was in pieces, thinking this might be the end. The idea of not seeing my children grow up was heart-wrenching.

I had another biopsy, which confirmed my cancer, and a week later I had a mastectomy on my right breast. It healed well and I was left with a flat right chest and a six-inch scar – but I still wasn’t out of the woods. The tissue was sent off for tests to check it hadn’t spread so I was still in a state.

When I got the call saying I was in the clear I was whooping with joy. But it wasn’t until three years later that I felt comfortable enough to tell friends and colleagues about my breast cancer. It might make people think I was strange and I didn’t want to deal with their reactions.

I feel blessed to be alive – and urge any man who notices anything strange about his breasts to get checked straight away.”