A Florida man was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer after having ‘no idea’ men could get the disease.
Zac Yarbrough, 43, was swimming with his two toddlers five years ago when he felt a knot under his left nipple. At first he thought nothing of it and continued to travel the world participating in fishing tournaments.
Eventually, the lump grew to the size of a golf ball, making it look like he “had a breast.”
Although men account for only one percent of all breast cancer cases in the U.S., Mr. Yarbrough’s doctor sent him for a mammogram. The results came back in stage four, with the cancer spreading to his lymph nodes and lungs.
“The hardest part of my cancer journey was knowing I didn’t see doctors for months,” he wrote for Insider.
‘But many people, like me in the past, have no idea that men can get breast cancer.’
Zac Yarbrough, 43, was swimming with his two toddlers five years ago when he felt a knot under his left nipple. It turned out to be stage four breast cancer
Within five days of his diagnosis, Mr. Yarbrough underwent a radial mastectomy, which removed his nipple, areola, muscles and lymph nodes around the breast. He also received 12 chemotherapy treatments and more than 36 radiation treatments
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in both the US and the world.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2023, 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 530 men will die from the disease. On the other hand, almost 300,000 women will receive the same diagnosis this year, and just over 43,000 will die.
However, the ACS also states that with early detection, nearly 99 percent of breast cancer patients will survive five years after their diagnosis. Once it spreads, that percentage drops to 40 percent.
This can be especially concerning for men, who may not recognize symptoms as quickly as women.
A 2019 study published in JAMA Oncology showed that men with breast cancer have a higher mortality rate than women. While women have an 86.4 percent survival rate, men have a 77.6 percent chance of still being alive after five years.
This may be because most men are diagnosed later than women due to a lack of knowledge from both patients and doctors.
Currently, all women aged 50 to 74 are advised to have a mammogram, an energy-efficient x-ray of their breasts, checked every two years.
There are no screening guidelines for men.
Within five days of his diagnosis, Mr. Yarbrough underwent a radial mastectomy, which removed his nipple, areola, muscles and lymph nodes around the breast.
“I knew this would give me the best chance of survival,” he said. “I don’t mind having scars for that.”
Mr. Yarbrough also received twelve chemotherapy treatments and more than 36 radiation treatments.
He is still fighting the disease and now receives chemo once every three weeks and takes various medications.
‘I’ve just had a scan which showed the best results I’ve had in years. My body is responding well to the treatment,” he said.
Mr Yarbrough has also made sure to take time for his hobbies, including spending time outdoors.
‘Mentally I am determined to continue living the way I have always done. There is just too much life to live,” he said.
‘I learned early on that I could be tired at home on the couch, but also outside the house. I choose the water or the forest every day.’