Infographic: Joseph Smith
Although the majority of Australians diagnosed with breast cancer are women, men can develop it too. While rare, accounting for 1% of all cancers in men, early detection is incredibly important.
Earlier this month, former NSW premier Nick Greiner underwent a mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Greiner had his left breast removed and has since been given a clean bill of health, as do 85% of men who undergo treatment.
Men have breast tissue, just like women, although in smaller amounts. Around 125 cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed in Australia each year, with the risk of developing breast cancer in men increasing with age. The average age of male diagnosis in Australia is 69, but men of all ages can be affected.
The former premier told the Australian Financial Review that after discovering a bleeding nipple, his doctor told him to consider a mammogram.
“Naturally, I managed to ignore that advice,” Greiner says.
Having never encountered a man with breast cancer, Greiner did not act, an all too common mistake. Cancer Council Australia has called for greater awareness of breast cancer in men, following Greiner’s public discussion of his experience.
Greater awareness leads to greater chance of survival
UOWTV Reporter André Charadia speaks to Dr Ian Olver, Cancer Council Australia CEO, about how breast cancer develops in men, and breast cancer survivor Fr David Catterall, Parish Priest of St Paul’s Catholic Church, Albion Park.
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Multimedia Reporter: André Charadia
Is Wollongong’s favourite lifestyle doing more harm than good?
UOWTV Reporter Ben Mitchell hit the beach to find out whether Wollongong locals are taking action to protect themselves in the sun.
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- Here on Wollongong Beach, the threat of cancer is always present. With this being the lifestyle of the citizens of Wollongong, what do they to stop this disease?
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- “Being on the beach all the time means for all the protection we use, there will always be a higher chance of getting Melanoma. It’s a sad truth but someone we all know going into this business. ” – Nick (lifeguard)
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- More than 12,500 new cases of Melanoma are diagnosed in Australia every year.
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- “We offer free sunscreen to any patron of the beach as we know the dangers both in and out of the water and we try to accommodate that.” – James
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- 1 in 17 Australians will be diagnosed with melanoma before age 25.
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- “I use sunscreen sometimes but then I don’t tan as well.” – Elizabeth
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- ‘Sure, some of my friends have had scares before but I put sunscreen on today so i should be fine.” – Peter
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- Melanoma was responsible for 3.4% of all cancer deaths in Australia in 2010.
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- “I’ve been surfing for 30 odd years now, I’ve done my best to cover up but hey that’s all you can do really” – Brandon
Multimedia Reporter: Ben Mitchell