Men and breast cancer

In 2022, it is predicted that 212 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  

This diagnosis can be particularly confronting for men and may bring many different challenges, including difficulty finding tailored information, feelings of isolation and being unsure who you can speak to. It is important for you to know there is a range of support available to you. 

Breast cancer in men is treated in the same way as breast cancer in women and men often experience common side effects including fatigue, lymphoedema and cognitive and bone health problems. Ongoing assessment and treatment of side effects is an important part of survivorship care and integral for health and wellbeing and quality of life. 

Watch our interactive webcast with Radiation Oncologist and Breast Cancer Specialist Professor John Boyages and Medical Oncologist, Dr Nick Zdenkowski. 

John Boyages is a breast cancer specialist, radiation oncologist and author of several books including Male Breast Cancer: Taking Control and has over 35 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Nick Zdenkowski is a medical oncologist and clinician researcher with a special interest in the care of patients with breast cancer. 

The session explored hormone-blocking treatments for breast cancer and how to manage side effects, provide information about lymphoedema and the treatment and care available and learn about what resources and support are available to you. 

Guest speakers

Dr Nick Zdenkowski , Medical Oncologist   

Nick is a medical oncologist and clinician researcher with a special interest in the care of patients with breast cancer. His PhD led to a resource to support shared decision-making for women considering neoadjuvant (pre-operative) chemotherapy for breast cancer. He would like to see research more embedded in routine clinical practice, to enable rapid and efficient translation of research into patient care. He currently practices at Maitland Private Hospital and The Breast and Endocrine Centre, Gateshead. He works as a Medical Advisor with Breast Cancer Trials, a collaborative breast cancer clinical trials group based in Newcastle. His research includes breast cancer clinical trials, supporting patient decision-making, supportive care in cancer, and implementation of research findings into routine clinical practice. 

Professor John Boyages AM, Radiation Oncologist 

Professor John Boyages is a breast cancer specialist, radiation oncologist and author with over 35 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. He graduated from the University of Sydney and trained in radiation oncology at Westmead Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard. He consults with patients from all over Australia and the Asia-Pacific and sees many patients seeking second opinions before or after surgery. He consults with and treats patients at the Icon Cancer Centres (Wahroonga, Gosford, Norwest) and consults at Wyong at the Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital. 

He was the founding director of the ALERT lymphoedema program, BreastScreen Western Sydney and the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute. He is also the author of the Taking Control series of books for patients (Breast Cancer, DCIS, Male Breast Cancer - www.breastcancertakingcontrol.com) and is regularly invited to speak at breast cancer or lymphoedema patient forums and medical conferences particularly in Australia, USA and the UK. In 2017, he was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for his work with breast cancer.