While breast cancer in men is rare, nearly 2,500 men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

  • Breast cancer in men is rare
  • Nearly 2,500 expected to be diagnosed this year
  • Lakeland jeweler shares his story to bring awareness

The society projects 460 will die from the disease.

Ron Oakley, a popular Lakeland jeweler, knows the struggle of fighting breast cancer all too well. The 64-year-old was diagnosed back in the fall of 2014.

“There just was a sore spot on my breast and I didn’t think anything of it at all,” said Oakley.

His wife told him to get it checked out. A month would pass before that happened.

“I said I got Christmas coming up. I’m a retail jeweler. I’ve got to get my game on. I don’t have time to be going to the doctor chasing ghosts,” Oakley said.

Waiting is exactly what doctors advise people to avoid.

Dr. Toan Nguyen said putting off the doctor’s visit to get a lump checked out is the main reason breast cancer in men can be more deadly.

“Usually males don’t do as well as females in terms of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is harder with diagnosis in a later stage,” said Nguyen, a fellowship-trained breast surgeon at Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center.

When Oakley went to the doctor, he had a mammogram and then a biopsy. His cancer was in Stage 2.

“I went into a panic. Not me. This couldn’t be real,” Oakley said.

He underwent chemotherapy for six months in order to shrink the tumor.

“On Christmas Day, I hurt so bad that I asked the Lord how can you let me hurt so bad and not just take me home,” Oakley said. “I begged that he would just take me now.”

He chuckled and said, “He had other plans.”

“You have to laugh now but it was pretty surreal at the time.”

Oakley worked at his store, Oakley Jewelers, the entire time. Eventually, he had a mastectomy.

Breast surgeon Dr. Elisabeth Dupont said that while less than one percent of men are diagnosed with breast cancer, the treatment is often the same between men and women.

“They get the same type of chemotherapy, the same anti-hormonal therapy. Mostly in surgery, men get mastectomies. They’re really not candidates for lumpectomies,” said Dupont.

Oakley said it was a rough ride. He leaned on his faith to see him through.

“I knew that he had this. I didn’t jump and run for second opinions or anything. I said I’m in his hands and I’m going to trust he’s got me right where he needs me,” Oakley said.

He’s been cancer free for more than two years. He bought himself a motorcycle as a welcoming gift into the world of breast cancer survivors.

Nguyen and Dupont recommend periodic breast checks for women and men, and if there’s a lump or something abnormal, they recommend seeing a doctor immediately.

For more information on breast cancer in men, click here.