Dad had no idea men could get breast cancer until he felt a lump while swimming

Dad had no idea men could get breast cancer until he felt a lump while swimming Doctors originally told Julian Albert it was 'probably nothing' A dad says he 'didn't even know men could get breast cancer' until he found a pea-sized lump in his chest while swimming at The Savoy Hotel. Julian Albert had noticed the left side of his chest felt unusually tender while putting on his seatbelt. But, the 63-year-old didn't think much of the discomfort until months later during a trip to The Savoy in London to celebrate his birthday. The kitchen and bathroom designer was swimming in the five-star hotel's pool when he felt a lump in his chest. The dad-of-two had also lost two stone without making any changes to his diet or lifestyle, prompting him to visit the doctors for a check-up. After an ultrasound and biopsy, the dad-of-two was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2023 - despite having no idea the deadly disease could affect men. The grandad-of-four underwent a mastectomy where doctors removed a 20mm marble-sized tumour and he was told he was cancer-free. But three years later, scans of Julian's scar tissue revealed a small amount of recurrence that has since been removed during surgery. Julian, who will have to undergo preventative radiotherapy, said he feels lucky to be alive after his diagnosis and is now urging other men to check their own chests. Julian, who lives in Braintree, Essex, said: "I noticed when I was getting in the car that there was a bit of tenderness when I put the seatbelt over my left side. "I didn't think much of it. I rubbed my finger over the tender area and felt a little pea-sized lump. I rang the GP and they said it's probably nothing and to leave it. I didn't feel anything was wrong. But I was losing a lot of weight for no reason. I lost almost two stone without trying. "I remember it was my 60th birthday and me and my wife went and stayed in The Savoy in London. We were swimming in the pool when I felt my chest and felt this lump again. It was in the back of my mind that it hadn't gone - it was still there." After contacting the doctors again, Julian underwent an ultrasound and biopsy, which confirmed he had breast cancer. Julian had the whole of his left breast and nipple removed during a two-hour operation and prescribed daily tablets to prevent recurrence. Julian said: "It was a massive shock. You start thinking 'am I going to die?' I came out and felt like I was in a daze. I went from swimming in the Savoy hotel, being as fit as a fiddle, to a cancer diagnosis literally a week or so after that. I had no idea that men could get breast cancer." Three years after getting the all-clear, Julian became concerned over a bumpy area of skin on his scar, which scans confirmed was a small amount of cancer. Julian, who has since undergone another operation and is due to start radiotherapy in September, is now urging other men not to ignore their symptoms. Julian said: "I feel lucky to be alive. I could've so easily not gone to the doctors. Men present themselves too late. When men go to seek advice on it, they always present themselves too late. Men should be checking themselves and bring it into their routine at least every couple of months."