Catherine Tyldesley details husband Tom Pitfield’s ‘painful’ breast cancer scare
Catherine Tyldesley has been urging men to check their breasts for signs of cancer after her photographer husband Tom Pitfield, 35, was recently shocked.
The 39-year-old soap star took to Instagram on Thursday and shared a lengthy post detailing Tom’s journey, after he found a lump and had a biopsy, which thankfully clear, revealed he had gynecomastia – swelling of male breast tissue.
She revealed that her husband, with whom she has son Alfie, eight, and daughter Ella, 12 months, didn’t know that men could get breast cancer until she revealed she had found a lump herself and visited the same specialist that visited Tom.
In the post, she wrote, “I’ve been thinking about whether or not to share this, but I spoke to my husband and he agreed it was important. @tompitfieldphotography recently found a large lump behind his nipple….
“Of course, if you find a lump somewhere, no matter how much you try not to worry. After a scan and an ultrasound, the GP still didn’t know what we were dealing with…
A helping hand: Catherine Tyldesley has urged men to check their breasts for signs of cancer after her husband Tom Pitfield was recently shocked
Reaching out: The soap star, 39, took to Instagram on Thursday and shared a lengthy post detailing Tom’s journey, after finding a lump and undergoing a biopsy, which thankfully cleared up, revealing he had gynecomastia – swelling of male breast tissue
Open and honest: Alongside the caption, she shared an image showing a man’s nipple next to the words, “Breast cancer in men. 1 in 200 breast cancers occur in men. Usually as a lump in the breast close to the nipple or notch’
So Tom needed a biopsy. Found a lump myself a few years ago (luckily it was nothing) but the breast specialist @jamesharvey.breastsurgeon was incredible and extremely thorough. So I was reassured when Tom was under his care…
The wait was painful as always. One of my male friends had breast cancer many years ago. I knew it was rare, but it happens…
“Tom had no idea that men can even get breast cancer. Luckily Tom’s results came back and it was a #Gynecomastia…
‘Which is actually very common with men. We are so relieved. But our experience has made me want to raise awareness about breast cancer in men. We’ve noticed that most men don’t even realize it’s a possibility…
‘Yes, it’s rare, but it’s totally worth checking your cocks Guys!! Symptoms are the same as in women. Usually a nodule. May be deformity, bloody nipple discharge. Check your pecs guys! #malebreastcancer #checkyourpecs…
Scared: She admitted that waiting for the results was “painful.”
“Thank you to our always wonderful #NHS and @jamesharvey.breastsurgeon.”
Alongside the caption, she shared an image showing a man’s nipple next to the words, “Breast cancer in men. 1 in 200 breast cancers occur in men. Usually as a lump in the breast close to the nipple or indentation’.
Her post comes six years after Catherine joined the fundraiser to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Awareness in 2017 following the death of a family friend.
Speaking, she said, “It’s a cause I’m very passionate about. I know how easily the symptoms of ovarian cancer are dismissed by both women and the medical profession.”
Catherine continued, ‘It’s really important that women are not ashamed of anything gynecological and feel comfortable talking about the disease so that everyone is more aware’.
Sweet: Catherine and Tom are pictured in 2020
Catherine and Tom had a whirlwind romance, and after only four months of dating, they found out they were expecting their son Alfie.
Last April, they welcomed their second child, daughter Iris.
Speaking to Notebook magazine, the actress said meeting Tom “came so out of the blue.” I am extremely lucky. He ticks every box.”
Of their surprise pregnancy with Alfie, she admitted: “It was a shock to us, but we were both ready.”
“The fact that I wasn’t nervous about telling him proved to a point in my mind that he was the right guy for me.”