'Having breast cancer makes me feel an imposter'

1 day ago

Anne-Marie Tasker

Health Correspondent, BBC Look North

Neil Ferriby says everyone stared when his name was called at the breast cancer clinic

BBC Neil Ferriby. He has short dark hair and wears black rimmed glasses. He is wearing a grey t-shirt and has a black elasticated bandage around his chest. He is standing in front of a pink wall with three framed prints on it. — Neil Ferriby says everyone stared when his name was called at the breast cancer clinic

On his most recent visit to a hospital breast clinic, Neil Ferriby noticed the surprise of the female patients who filled the waiting room when he was called forward.

It is moments like those that have contributed to the 42-year-old feeling "almost an imposter" since he was diagnosed with male breast cancer.

"The room was noisy and then, as soon as they said 'Neil', you could hear a pin drop. They were all staring at me," he said.

"I guess they don't expect men of my age to get breast cancer."

The former RAF mechanical transport driver from east Hull has an elasticated strapped around his chest, helping his recovery from surgery to remove 13 lymph nodes and three tumours.

Warning: This story includes a post-surgery picture

Mr Ferriby said he had first noticed a lump and a burning sensation around his nipple in January, but dismissed them as harmless.

"In my head, it was kind of like, it's only females what get breast cancer, or males in their 60s plus," he said.

Four weeks ed before his family and friends persuaded him to see his GP. He was referred to Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire for a mammogram and ultrasound.

In March, a biopsy found cancerous cells and, after surgery in April, he started chemotherapy this week.

Mr Ferriby completed a tour of Iraq during his 12 years of RAF service and said the experience had helped him cope with the diagnosis.

"It's gone back to the military mindset that even if you're injured you still fight, and I'm here to fight, not to let cancer take me," he said.

Mr Ferriby had surgery to remove lymph nodes and three tumours from his breast

Neil Ferriby Neil Ferriby. He is topless and is propped up in a hospital bed. There is a red scar running horizontally across his right breast from the centre of his chest to under his armpit. His nipple has been removed. Neil has dark hair and wears glasses and is looking at the camera. — Mr Ferriby had surgery to remove lymph nodes and three tumours from his breast

The charity Breast Cancer Now said approximately 400 men were diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, compared with about 55,000 women.

Of those men, only about 100 are under 60.

Katy Goford, the charity's clinical nurse specialist, said all men had breast tissue and should be as aware of changes as women.

"It's the same message we would put to women - that you need to be aware of what your chest looks and feels like normally," she said.

"We'd encourage everybody to touch, to look and to check your chest and to report any changes that you see to your GP."

The charity, which offers a helpline and a buddy service to match men with other male breast cancer patients, said being diagnosed with breast cancer could be "very isolating" for men.

'Guinea pig'

Mr Ferriby said he had become aware of how unusual his case was when the number of people coming into his appointments increased from a doctor and a nurse to "coachloads" of people.

But, keen to raise awareness of how breast cancer presents in men, he said he was happy staff and students were able to learn from him.

"I don't mind being a guinea pig for the NHS," he said.

Mr Ferriby said he had found his local breast cancer charity ive, despite having reservations initially.

He said: "It's called HER Breast Friends, so I emailed 'Do you actually deal with males":[]}