64-Year-Old Man Diagnosed With Prostate & Breast Cancer Just Months Apart Urges ‘Don’t Be Afraid To Get Checked’

Support Through Cancer

• Roger Stanley, 64, discovered he had both prostate and breast cancer in a time span of four months—now he’s urging others, “Don’t be afraid to get checked.”
• Stanley learned he had prostate cancer after a health scare led him to get PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests done in March 2023. Then, less than four months later, cancer was found in his right breast and removed in July 2023.
• Early detection of prostate is important as it can help reduce the risk of cancer spreading to other organs. Screening for prostate cancer generally involves a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test and a digital rectal exam to feel the prostate gland. The prostate-specific antigen is a protein secreted by the prostate gland, large amounts of which can indicate prostate cancer.
• Though the PSA test is not always accurate and an elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer, our experts maintain that these tests are helpful. Make sure to discuss your options with your doctors and decide what screening should look like for you.
• Treatment for male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. A person’s options depend greatly on a variety of factors, including the size of the tumor and how far the cancer cells have spread, but possibilities include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.
• Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin previously wrote for SurvivorNet, that it’s “important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout and after your treatment,” which she said can be an “arduous chapter.”

Roger Stanley, 64, considered himself a "fit and healthy" man before being diagnosed with prostate and breast cancer just months apart—now he's spreading awareness for the diseases and the importance of check-ups, insisting, "Don't be afraid to get checked." Stanley, from Shropshire, England, was first diagnosed with prostate cancer after having PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests done in March 2023. Then, less than four months later, cancer was found in his right breast and removed in July 2023. RELATED: The Shock and Awe of Hearing You Have Breast Cancer — Men Need to Know About Risks The U.K.-native spoke out about his cancer journey in a recent interview with PA Real Life, according to Birmingham Live , revealing that before his diagnoses he had no signs of the diseases. Stanley, who had no symptoms of cancer before getting diagnosed, said, "At that time, I didn't realize that men could get breast cancer, it was just not something I had thought about. "When it came to my own diagnosis, I had no clue I had breast cancer – I couldn't feel a lump, I had no symptoms, I had no pain, my partner Shaila hadn’t noticed a lump. It was completely unexpected… but hopefully, by talking, it will help at least one person get something checked and make a difference."

Stanley, formerly a forensic accountant, thankfully discovered he had breast cancer while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. RELATED: Prostate Cancer: Overview After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Stanley underwent a radical prostatectomy, which John Hopkins Medicine describes as the removal of the entire prostate gland. It was during follow-up exams, two weeks after his procedure, when his doctors found a cancerous mass in his right breast, which he treated by having a single mastectomy done to get rid of the cancerous tissue. His surgeries were successful, but he will continue taking the hormone therapy drug Tamoxifen for five years in hopes to cut his cancer recurrence risk in half. RELATED: What is Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer? Stanley, who has since joined a male support group, known as The Men’s VMU (Virtual Meet-up), for those diagnosed with breast cancer, now hopes his cancer journey will inspire other men to get annual check ups and be their own advocate when it comes to health. He even described himself before his cancer diagnoses as a "fit and healthy" man who often took part in sports and ventured outside for activities. What eventually led to his prostate cancer diagnosis was a shocking event that took place in December 2022, when he collapsed at home and was quickly taken to the hospital, where he was found to have bleeding in his esophagus brought on by acid reflux. Blood test results, which were done after he had blood transfusions in the hospital, were what revealed his elevated PSA levels—something his doctors weren't initially concerned about. However, further testing, including a biopsy and a CT scan, revealed he had "fairly aggressive" prostate cancer. He treated the disease with a radical prostatectomy.

Expert Resources On Prostate Cancer Treatment

• Genetic Testing for Advanced Prostate Cancer Can Help Tailor Treatment
• Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treatment is Improving
• Deep Concern For The Nearly Half A Million Veterans Who Have Prostate Cancer: Are They Getting The Proper Treatment?
• How to Treat Late-Stage Prostate Cancer: New Treatment Developments
• New Drug for Advanced Prostate Cancer Gets Fast-Tracked by FDA; What You Need to Know About This Treatment

He explained further, "Before this, I was fit and healthy, I’d met a new partner, and we were looking forward to the future and had lots of holidays planned. "But because my dad had had it and was treated with radiotherapy and my friend had had it and was treated with brachytherapy, I wasn't really concerned." As for finding his breast cancer after his prostatectomy, Stanley to PA Real Life, "It was lucky it was picked up because, with most men, you don't know you can get it, if you find something you ignore it, and even if you do find something you don’t think it’s breast cancer." Following his single mastectomy, he underwent physiotherapy to get back his strength and return to sports.

Understanding Prostate Cancer

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it's important to remember that most types of prostate cancers are treatable. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate of prostate cancer in the U.S. is 97.1%. There is, however, a small number of men whose type of prostate cancer may become unresponsive to treatment, for example, when cancer cells develop a resistance hormone therapy, the treatment may no longer work. Prostate cancer begins in the prostate the walnut-shaped gland located between the rectum and bladder that produces the fluid that nourishes sperm. Outside of skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men with about one in eight men being diagnosed with this disease during his lifetime.

Expert Resources On Prostate Cancer Treatment

• Genetic Testing for Advanced Prostate Cancer Can Help Tailor Treatment
• Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treatment is Improving
• Deep Concern For The Nearly Half A Million Veterans Who Have Prostate Cancer: Are They Getting The Proper Treatment?
• How to Treat Late-Stage Prostate Cancer: New Treatment Developments
• New Drug for Advanced Prostate Cancer Gets Fast-Tracked by FDA; What You Need to Know About This Treatment

It’s important to remember a prostate cancer diagnosis is not always preceded by symptoms. And even when symptoms do occur, they can be inconsistent and hard to pinpoint. “Prostate cancer is a very odd disease in that it doesn’t have a particular symptom,” Dr. Edwin Posadas , director of translational oncology and the medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai, told SurvivorNet. Still, it’s important to note changes in urinary function, like urinating more or less often or waking up at night to go more than usual, could be a sign of prostate cancer. So, even if you think there’s nothing to worry about, always talk to your doctor about changes to your health when they occur. There are many different treatment options for both early and later-stage prostate cancer including active surveillance , watchful waiting , surgery, radiation, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. The disease is one where doctors may have differing opinions on the best treatment path to take, so don’t hesitate to ask lots of questions and seek out multiple opinions. Second (& Third) Opinions Matter When Deciding Between Surgery or Radiation “I think it behooves the patient to have multiple discussions or second opinions, not only by the urologist who did the biopsy and diagnosed that man, but also with other surgeons and other radiation oncologist just to get a very circumspect view of what the treatment options are,” Dr. Jim Hu , a urologic oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet. “Oftentimes, I think patients need to understand that our health system is based a lot on fee-for-service medicine. “And so therefore, a lot of physicians, I think, who are very well intentioned, will believe that their treatment is best for that particular man,” Dr. Hu added.

How Common Is Male Breast Cancer?

As of January 2024, the American Cancer Society estimates about 2,790 new cases of invasive male breast cancer will be diagnosed and about 530 men will die from breast cancer. A male breast cancer diagnosis is uncommon and many men likely don’t know what symptoms to watch for, and some don’t even know that they can develop the disease. Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer Can Include:

• A lump developed in the breast (usually painless), or a thickening in the breast tissue
• Nipple pain
• An inverted nipple
• Discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody (this was Mathew Knowles' first symptom)
• Changes to the color or texture of the nipple and areola
• Changes to the color or texture of skin on the chest
• Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm

If You Feel Something, Say Something Men Ignore Symptoms Too Often Treatment for male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. A person's options depend greatly on a variety of factors, including the size of the tumor and how far the cancer cells have spread, but possibilities include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.

Finding Support During a Cancer Journey

Feeling supported during or after a cancer battle, like Roger Stanley has with his men support group, is hugely beneficial. According to New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik , receiving the diagnosis "can be a very overwhelming experience" that requires finding support outside of your usual circles. Seeking Support: The First 3 Things to Do After a Cancer Diagnosis "Some people don't need to go outside of their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there," Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet. "But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional." Dr. Plutchik recommends the following three steps for anyone who just found out they had cancer.

• Seek additional support if you need it. This might mean speaking to a mental health professional or finding a support group to join.
• If needed, find a mental health professional who has experience helping people dealing with things like cancer.
• Make sure your care team stays connected. Your care team may include your friends, loved ones, therapist and doctors.

Overall, know you're not alone and there are many people out there for you to be vulnerable with should you choose to open up about your cancer diagnosis. Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin previously wrote for SurvivorNet , that it's "important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment," which she said can be an "arduous chapter." That being said, it's very important to know your limits on what you can handle during treatment. "Going through treatment is a very vulnerable and emotionally exhausting experience," she wrote. "Noticing what you have strength for and what is feeling like too much [is] extremely important to pay attention to as you navigate treatment." Family Love and Support Makes a World of Difference During Cancer Treatment Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff