Male Breast Cancer: Comedian Robert George’s Unlikely Diagnosis Sparks Awareness
Robert George, a standup comedian from New York, recently shared his experience with male breast cancer to raise awareness about this lesser-known form of the disease. In August, the 61-year-old was diagnosed with stage 2 male breast cancer after ignoring months of mild irritation under his left nipple, mistaking it for an ingrown hair.
Even healthcare providers initially believed the irritation was a subcutaneous cyst, a non-cancerous bump. However, further evaluation revealed the presence of cancer cells. In September, Mr. George underwent a mastectomy to remove his cancerous left breast, as well as nearby lymph nodes where traces of the cancer were detected.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), male breast cancer is significantly less common than female breast cancer. The estimated number of new cases in 2023 is 2,800 for men, compared to nearly 298,000 for women. The mortality rate for men is 0.3 per 100,000, while the rate for women is 19.1 per 100,000.
However, black men face a higher risk of developing male breast cancer and are diagnosed at a 52% higher rate than white men. There are also higher death rates among this group, with 0.5 deaths per 100,000. To emphasize this disparity, Mr. George mentioned Mathew Knowles, Beyonce’s father, who also underwent a mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019.
Mr. George, now in the process of receiving radiation and potentially chemotherapy, urges men to pay attention to their bodies and seek medical help if they notice any symptoms. Symptoms of male breast cancer can include redness or flaky skin on the chest, nipple discharge, inverted nipples, breast lumps or swelling, and breast skin irritation or dimpling.
While genetic testing did not reveal any predisposing mutations for Mr. George, he had a family history of breast cancer, which is a known risk factor. Despite facing a challenging journey, Mr. George has found a way to incorporate his experience into his comedy routine, using humor to share his truth and raise awareness for this often overlooked diagnosis.
Source: Cancer Research UK
