Published on 23 October 2026
A patient representative at Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA) is warning men to check for signs of breast cancer.
Richard Galloway, from Wirral, is urging men to check their chests and seek advice about any changes during Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week (17–23 October 2026).
Richard, 69, first noticed a lump beneath his left nipple while he was in the shower. A keen marathon runner, he initially wondered whether it could be ‘jogger’s nipple’, but he decided to visit his GP to be sure.
At first, the lump was thought to be a cyst, and Richard was advised to return if it was still there after a few weeks. When it did not go away, he was referred to the Wirral Breast Clinic, where he underwent a mammogram and biopsy. Unfortunately, the results confirmed that he had breast cancer.
“I didn’t know men could get breast cancer,” said Richard. “I hadn’t heard of it and didn’t know anyone who had experienced it. Breast cancer awareness often feels very ‘pink‘, with little information or visibility for men.”
Diagnosed in December 2015, Richard underwent a mastectomy in January 2016. Three lymph nodes were also removed and found to be clear, so he did not need radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
He was prescribed tamoxifen, a hormone-blocking treatment, but experienced a serious reaction that resulted in blood clots in his lungs. He then spent six months taking blood thinners to reduce the risk of them happening again.
Whilst Richard is not currently receiving treatment, he remains mindful that cancer could return. His experience led him to turn personal insight into action by joining the Cancer Alliance as a patient rep and raising awareness, supporting other men and speaking up for patients.
He said: “I feel incredibly fortunate and want to use my experience to help others.”
Richard had already supported breast cancer fundraising before his diagnosis, but whilst attending a major breast cancer event, he noticed there was little acknowledgement that men can also develop the disease.
That lack of representation motivated him to become involved with Men’s VMU – an online community sharing information and support. The Men’s VMU helps connect men affected by breast cancer, campaigns for more inclusive information and services, and connects with the major breast cancer charities and researchers to help change the narrative.
As a CMCA patient rep, Richard contributes his lived experience to discussions about improving cancer care. He helps develop ideas and champions the patient perspective so that services reflect what matters to people affected by cancer.
For Richard, that role includes encouraging more open and inclusive conversations. He says that male breast cancer can still feel taboo, particularly because of its impact on body image, and he wants men to know there is nothing to be embarrassed about and that support is available.
Drawing on both his representative role and personal experience, Richard’s advice is simple: if something does not feel right, do not ignore it.
He added: “Check your chest, be aware of any changes and speak to your GP. People respond to a diagnosis in different ways, but nobody has to face it alone. Let’s talk about it and not brush it under the carpet. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. Men get breast cancer too.”
Find out more about male breast cancer: https://