Man, 63, Said His Doctors Told Him Pea-Sized Lump on His Chest Was ‘Probably Nothing.’ It Turned Out to Be Breast Cancer

Julian Albert said the diagnosis was additionally shocking because he ‘had no idea that men could get breast cancer”

NEED TO KNOW

• Julian Albert said doctors initially dismissed a pea-sized lump on his chest as “probably nothing,” but months later he was diagnosed with breast cancer
• The 63-year-old — who said he didn’t even know men could get breast cancer — underwent a mastectomy and later had a second surgery after the disease returned to the same area
• Albert is urging other men to regularly check their chests and seek medical advice for changes

A man says doctors dismissed a small lump on his chest as “probably nothing” — but he was ultimately diagnosed with breast cancer.

Julian Albert of Braintree, England, first noticed something unusual while putting on his seatbelt back in 2023, according to Kennedy News and Media.

“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,” Albert recalled.

“I didn’t think much of it. I rubbed my finger over the tender area and felt a little pea-sized lump,” he added. “I rang the doctor and they said it’s probably nothing and to leave it. I didn’t feel anything was wrong.”

Over the following months, however, the father of two began experiencing another unexplained change: He lost nearly 28 lbs. without changing his diet or lifestyle.

“I was losing a lot of weight for no reason,” he said. 

The kitchen and bathroom designer said he was celebrating his 60th birthday with his wife at The Savoy Hotel in London when the lump again caught his attention.

“We were swimming in the pool when I felt my chest and felt this lump again,” he continued. “It was in the back of my mind that it hadn’t gone — it was still there.”

Albert decided to return to the doctor, and he ultimately underwent an ultrasound and biopsy. In August 2023, he learned he had breast cancer.

“It was a massive shock. You start thinking ‘Am I going to die?’ ” Albert recalled.

“I came out and felt like I was in a daze,” he continued. “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.”

For Albert, the diagnosis was particularly unexpected because he hadn’t realized breast cancer could also affect men.

“I had no idea that men could get breast cancer,” he said.

Less than one percent of all breast cancer cases occur in men, according to the American Cancer Society. While the overall risk is low, rates increase as men get older.

Albert subsequently underwent a two-hour mastectomy in which doctors removed his entire left breast and nipple, along with a tumor measuring about 0.8 inches. He was later told he was cancer-free and began taking daily medication intended to reduce the risk of the disease returning.

But about three years later, Albert became concerned when he noticed a bumpy area of skin along his surgical scar.

Scans revealed that a small amount of cancer had returned in the scar tissue. Albert has since undergone another surgery to remove the recurrence and is expected to begin preventative radiation treatment in September.

Now a grandfather of four, Albert said his experience has left him grateful that he sought medical attention.

“I feel lucky to be alive. I could’ve so easily not gone to the doctors,” he said.

Albert also said he believes men may be particularly prone to delaying medical care when they notice potential signs of breast cancer.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Men [go to the doctor] too late,” he said. “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,” Albert added.

Read the full article here