Brave dad beats cancer that 'even pharmacist didn't know men could get'

16 October 2023 , 13:04

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Brave Doug wants to raise awareness about men being diagnosed with breast cancer (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)

A heroic dad-of-five who beat breast cancer has spoken of his shock at getting the disease since he originally thought it didn’t affect men.

Doug Harper, 61, wasn’t the only one who was surprised that it wasn’t just women who had to face the horrific illness. He says that even his pharmacist was confused at the diagnosis and told him the prescription couldn’t be his.

The former Walthamstow print worker, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, says there is such a lack of understanding around the disease that even medical professionals get confused. He was forced to tell the pharmacist: “Men can get breast cancer too, mate.”

Doug, who now dedicates his time to charities including CoppaFeel! and Breast Cancer Now, explained that hearing the pharmacist’s confusion was difficult. He told MyLondon: "It was tough for someone to say that in a full pharmacy. That’s the first time I said that sentence and I must’ve said it a million times since."

Doug has been campaigning on breast cancer for over a decade (Facundo Arrizabalaga)

The brave dad explained how his battle with breast cancer first started in mid-2011 after he noticed a cyst on his left nipple. Despite it only causing a mild irritation, he visited the GP just before Christmas to get it checked out.

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"I get on well with my GP so initially we were chatting and laughing, but after I took my top off his whole manner changed," he said. After Doug was booked in for more tests, he was diagnosed with the disease just before he turned 50.

The campaigner, who now lives in South East London, went through chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free in mid-December 2012. But it hasn’t stopped him from making it his mission to spread awareness about breast cancer in men, after the surprise from himself and others around him at the disease.

Every year 400 men face a breast cancer diagnosis, and Doug started a blog to ‘spread the word’. He added: “I thought something good needs to come out of this so I’ll start a blog to raise awareness. It started to get attention from charities, and since then I’ve been doing loads of work.”

Asda Tickled Pink aims to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer charities Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! As part of the campaign Asda are highlighting the ‘Real Self-Checkers’, five people, including Doug, each with a different experience of breast cancer.

Luke Donnelly