It Happened To Me

 My beloved dog was staring at me with a serious look… I believe he was trying to warn me that something was wrong!

My life changed one morning in the shower—I felt a lump behind my left nipple. Only a few days passed before it had begun to invert.

My primary care physician’s initial reaction was that I may have gynecomastia. His lab performed a blood test and I was immediately sent for a chest x-ray. We all agreed that I needed to see a surgeon as soon as possible.

My surgeon ruled out gynecomastia. I was scheduled for both a mammogram and ultrasound on my left breast.

My primary care physician had seen the imaging results and was very concerned. We were all on full alert. The surgeon immediately scheduled me to have a biopsy done. A radiologist performed 3 core biopsies under my breast at the site of the lump. I did, in fact, have BREAST CANCER.

My surgeon fully explained the surgery procedures that included checking lymph nodes for possible spreading of the cancer and recovery odds. Although I had several options, I wanted my surgeon—who is also a friend—to perform the mastectomy to remove the lump. Moving quickly, we scheduled the surgery for the following week.

I had stage 2a ductal carcinoma, a total mastectomy of my left breast – 8 ½ cut, 39 staples and 2 drain tubes. There were no signs of cancerous cells in my lymph nodes. Our prayers were working.

We had to wait for test results to come back, on both the tumor and BRACA.  My main concern during that anxious time was the BRACA report and my daughter’s safety. The tumor report confirmed my surgeons opinion, stage 2a ductal carcinoma, and the BRACA test came back NEGATIVE!

Tumor and treatment reporting charts had me in the range of an 86% chance of this cancer not returning within 10 years with me taking the drug Tamoxifen.  We met with another oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He concurred with everything that we had heard from both the surgeon.  He ordered a mammogram on my other (right) breast, and to our relief, that test came back negative.

Through this process, my TEAM consisted of prayer, my physician, surgeon, oncologist, family members and close friends. My life depended on this team.

I have been breast cancer-free since my surgery and continue to see my doctor, surgeon, and oncologist on a regular basis. I am doing well.

We have formed the non-profit, WE GET IT TOO, INC. to spread the word of male breast cancer’s warning signs and the importance of EARLY DETECTION.

Anyone who has any of the warning signs should see their doctor immediately, as early detection improves your odds of survival.

Ben Futch
Twin Lakes, Georgia