PRESS RELEASE - Breaking Taboos in Men’s Health Week - Men Get Breast Cancer Too!

Men’s Health Week – Breaking Taboos

Men diagnosed with breast cancer share experiences

DOWNLOAD FREE TO USE IMAGES HERE 

During Men’s Health Week, men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer met up to raise awareness. For many of them, it was the first time they had met another man who had been treated for the disease.

These men are part of breast cancer charity Walk the Walk’s Men Get Breast Cancer Too campaign, which includes 24 men.

Men’s Health Week is about encouraging men to be aware of how they can improve their health and to highlight the various symptoms that they should look out for. Breast cancer in men does not feature high on the list - in fact, ask most men and they will tell you that they do not check their chests and many don’t even know that men can get breast cancer.

The signs to look out for are an inverted nipple, a lump behind the nipple, a discharge, reddening or skin dimpling. For more details of how men should check their chest, click here. for a poster specially created by the men and Walk the Walk. Tips include standing in front of a mirror and checking the chest area whilst in the shower.

Mark Winter from Tunbridge Wells was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. He said: “Until today at the Men Get Breast Cancer Too event I hadn’t met any other men with breast cancer. I found it fascinating and actually amazing to have the opportunity to share experiences and talk openly about my breast cancer diagnosis. It has made me realise that the feelings I have been experiencing are the same as other men, I am not on my own. For me it was also about seeing that men who have had breast cancer in the past and are still doing well".

Pam Cleveland from Newark, Nottinghamshire attended today’s gathering with her husband Neil. Both of them have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer. Pam said:-
“Neil’s never opened up to anybody since he was diagnosed with breast cancer and now he’s opening up so much to these other men, about something which they all have in common. I’ve even heard him acknowledge today how hard his diagnosis was for me as his partner and he’s never said that before. Having had breast cancer myself, I’ve experienced both sides of the story. Women do talk to each other more, but now Walk the Walk’s campaign is giving the men the platform to talk too, to share their experiences and to help each other with their unanswered questions.”
Tracey Crouch, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford recently finished her own treatment for breast cancer and is giving her support to the Men Get Breast Cancer Too campaign. She said: “I have used my platform as a politician to encourage people, both women and men, to check their chests. I understand how uncomfortable speaking out about breast cancer can be, which is why I have absolute admiration for these men. Working with Walk the Walk they are going out of their comfort zone to literally help save lives. It is also great to see that several charities are working in collaboration to support these amazing men”.
To find out more about Walk the Walk’s Men Get Breast Cancer Too campaign, click here

IMAGE DETAILS

• Men Get Breast Cancer Too Image 1 Men with a diagnosis of breast cancer gather to share experiences and raise awareness
• Men Get Breast Cancer Too Image 2 Mark Winter from Tunbridge Wells (centre) meets other men with a diagnosis of breast cancer for the first time
• Men Get Breast Cancer Too Image 3 Pam and Neil Cleveland from Newark, Nottinghamshire, who have both been previously diagnosed with breast cancer
• Men Get Breast Cancer Too Image 4 Pam and Neil Cleveland from Newark, Nottinghamshire, who have both been previously diagnosed with breast cancer
• Men Get Breast Cancer Too Image 5 Neil Cleveland from Newark, Nottinghamshire (centre) chats to other men who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer
• Men Get Breast Cancer Too Image 6 Stuart Weaver from Maidstone meets other men with a diagnosis of breast cancer
  
  

For more information contact: 

• Sally Orr: 07796 080675 [email protected]
• Jennifer Broh: 07974 107999 [email protected]
  

Notes to Editors:

Men Get Breast Cancer Too

• In 2017, Walk the Walk recognised that there was very little awareness of male breast cancer 
• With the support of 6 men diagnosed with the disease, Walk the Walk launched the Men Get Breast Cancer Too! Campaign
• The 6 men have become 24 and the men’s united voice has continued to spread awareness
• With the help of the men, Walk the Walk created a special “blue bra” t-shirt, showing the message “Men Get Breast Cancer Too”
• Walk the Walk also worked with the men to create a downloadable Check your Chest awareness poster
• Walk the Walk is collaborating with ten cancer charities across the UK and one in the USA to raise even more awareness about breast cancer in men. All the charities logos are included on Walk the Walk’s Check your Chest poster. Download the poster here.
• Walk the Walk has also been working with the Male Breast Cancer Coalition and De Montfort University on the Virtual Meet-up for men who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer
• The VMU meets on the last Thursday of every month and is an opportunity for men to talk about things which are important and unique to them.

Walk the Walk 

• Walk the Walk is a grant-making health charity, specialising in promoting the benefits of Walking as an important part of cancer prevention as well as for overall mental health and physical wellbeing
• Walk the Walk raises funds by creating and organising a variety of walking and trekking challenges across the world
• HRH The Prince of Wales is the official Patron of Walk the Walk
• During the restrictions placed on events due to Covid-19 Walk the Walk has been forced to look at creating alternative and exciting Virtual events in order to keep people walking and healthy, as well as raising vital funds. This includes the first Virtual MoonWalk London and Virtual MoonWalk Scotland
• The MoonWalk is Walk the Walk’s flagship event, held in London, Scotland and Iceland, with women and men taking on their overnight walking challenges wearing brightly decorated bras to raise awareness.
• Walk the Walk has raised more than £134 million since it walked its first challenge in 1996
• The funds raised are granted to charities and organisations across the UK where it can achieve the most good, as well as funding Walk the Walk’s own projects.
• Evidence now shows that being active and lifestyle choices are important factors in prevention against cancer and other diseases.
• At this time funds are granted to research into secondary cancers and to also support frontline services and the impact that Covid-19 has had on those living with cancer
• Visit walkthewalk.org for updates about all Walk the Walk’s virtual fundraising events and to make a donation.