Peter Firth, 79, was diagnosed after his daughter Rachel, 48, noticed something when he had his top off
A grandfather was diagnosed with breast cancer and eventually had a double mastectomy after his daughter noticed his nipple was “going inwards”. Peter Firth, 79, received his diagnosis when his daughter Rachel, 48, observed that his nipple had inverted while he was shirtless.
Rachel, who is employed in prison healthcare, also discovered a large lump on his left side and promptly took him to the doctor. She said they were initially dismissed by the GP receptionist, who said that “men don’t get breast cancer”, but they were eventually referred to York Hospital.
There, a biopsy confirmed that he had stage two breast cancer in his left breast. Following a mastectomy and chemotherapy, he was in remission until seven years later when a lump the size of a pea was detected in his right breast. He underwent another mastectomy and has since been given the all clear.
Now, he is keen to raise awareness about male breast cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, less than one in 100 breast cancer cases in the UK occurs in men.
Peter, a fisherman from Bridlington, said: “I was shocked that men could even get breast cancer. And me? I didn’t think I’d get breast cancer.
“I have just got on with life. I took it on the chin. I felt so lucky because there are so many ladies dying with breast cancer. I was just caught at the right time.”
Peter’s initial diagnosis came in September 2018 after Rachel spotted changes in his chest.
“I just popped around one day and I walked in and my dad had his top off,” she recalled. It was then that she noticed his nipple “was going inwards”.
Rachel said: “I said I don’t want to scare you, but let me have a look, because it looks like there’s a lump as well.”
Upon examination, she discovered a “big lump”. Despite her experience with male breast lumps through her work, Rachel shared that the GP receptionist was dismissive.
She recalled the receptionist’s reaction: “The receptionist wasn’t helpful. She said, ‘don’t be ridiculous. Men don’t get breast cancer, you shouldn’t scare your dad like that’.”
However, after consulting with the GP, Peter was swiftly referred to York Hospital for a biopsy. The diagnosis came back as stage two breast cancer in his left breast.
Peter underwent a mastectomy to remove his left breast and 29 lymph nodes, of which 17 were found to be cancerous, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
In 2018, Peter received the all-clear, but a new challenge emerged in January 2024 when doctors discovered a pea-sized lump in his other breast as he neared seven years cancer-free. He was diagnosed with breast cancer once again.
“Everything just keeps getting thrown at my dad, but he just keeps getting back up. He’s a fighter,” Rachel said. In February 2024, Peter faced a second mastectomy on his right breast.
Fortunately, the cancer was detected early enough to avoid additional chemotherapy or radiation. Peter, who has not encountered another man with breast cancer, is keen to share his story to increase awareness and combat stigma.
Rachel highlighted the difficulties they faced due to the gendered nature of resources: “We struggled with how female-oriented everything is. All the booklets and packs were about women, they were about getting different bras.
“Even the ribbon is pink. When I used to go with my dad to appointments, they actually thought it was me with the breast cancer, not him.
“My dad took it all on his chin, he understood that men don’t really get it, but at the same time it was highlighted that something needed to change. Regardless of it not being a high percentage, men still get it.
“Most women get breast augmentation or reconstruction. My dad was never offered anything.
“He’s been left with no breasts whatsoever and a sunken chest, so why have they never offered him to have pecs put back in?”.
“There isn’t the research or history for men. Sometimes the sensitivity isn’t there as much.
“He wouldn’t be here if I’d have never spotted it. He would’ve died in 2017 because he didn’t know what it was. He loves to tell everybody that I saved his life and that I’m his guardian angel.”
Peter is currently fundraising for the Magnolia Centre at York Hospital, Breast Friends Support Group and Saint Catherine’s Hospice in Scarborough – through a 10,000ft parachute jump. He has collected £4,000 so far and will complete the jump on July 26.
Peter explained: “I’m doing the parachute jump because the people at York, Scarborough and St Catherine’s have looked after me like a brother. I’m not nervous. I’ve never given it a thought. Honestly, I haven’t. I’m a fisherman and the other fishermen said they’re going to make a big net so if the parachute doesn’t open, they can catch me.”
Contributions can be made through Peter’s GoFundMe page.