From ignorance to strength, Lewis navigates breast cancer treatment as a man, facing his own unique challenges

My name is Lewis Trickey. My background is with the RSPCA as an inspector, so I’m used to dealing with stressful situations. I took early retirement from that and became a driving instructor, so I’m a bit of a glutton for punishment really. Things don’t usually faze me.

Five years ago my wife of 48 years, Jane, found a lump in her breast. It turned out to be cancer. She had a partial mastectomy, meaning they didn’t take the whole breast off.

They were fantastic with my wife in that unit, as they would be with me. She’s had five mammograms now and she’s clear which is absolutely brilliant.

I went with her on all the appointments and you sit in the waiting room. Very often there’s a man with his wife, like I was with Jane. They called names and women got up and went to their appointments, then a man stood up and that really confused me I thought “what is a man doing being seen in a breast unit?” Honestly, until five years ago, I didn’t have a clue that men could get breast cancer.

When I found a lump, I ignored it like most men do. I thought it would go away on its own, but it didn’t. I eventually made an appointment and went to see the GP, who referred me to the breast unit at Peterborough City Hospital.

I had a mammogram and it was positive for cancer. But the incredible thing is that even though the NHS is under so much stress, within four weeks of me phoning my GP, I had the operation.

I was first on the list, so I was in there at 7:15 am. I didn’t know what was going on when I came round. I did what the nurses wanted me to do, which was drink as soon as I could, have a sandwich, and go to the bathroom, which I did. I was surprised they let me get out of bed and go on my own.

I was in the operating theatre for two hours. So I think they probably put me back on the ward on recovery at about 1:00 o’clock and I phoned my wife at 2:00 and I was home by 4:30 eating egg, chips and beans.

I really wish they’d advised me to shave my chest and under my armpits before I went in. They obviously don’t have to advise women to do that. Getting the dressing off after a week was even more painful than the operation itself. I just couldn’t believe that it took me ages to get the dressing off purely because it was attached to the hair.

I have advised the nursing staff that men should be told to shave under their armpits and chest before the operation. They intend to use that in their pre-op assessments going forward, but that should be a national thing to pass on.

I took this about 3 weeks after my op. I think it looks fine and once I get a tattoo on it you won’t notice it! I’ve lost a nipple but it’s not been much use in the last 69 years so it won’t be missed!

I’ve got a scar that goes from the middle of my chest and under my armpit. It’s not the longest I’ve got (I’ve had quite a few motorbike accidents in my life) but it’s certainly the neatest one. It’s nice and straight unlike the one on my leg which is shaped like a thunderbolt.

I drove after two weeks. I’m doing all my exercises which is really, really important. I know that from having other operations you’ve got to do what the physio people tell you, even if it hurts. It didn’t hurt, but it was a bit uncomfortable, but I do them four times a day now.

Eventually, I heard the news everyone wants to hear from their breast cancer consultant: “I am pleased to say you are completely clear of cancer and do not need any further treatment.”

What a roller coaster it was. Trying to push the worries to the back of your mind, reassuring your family that you are fine and it’s nothing to worry about, even though at times you are not and don’t believe that yourself.

I am having radiotherapy as a preventative measure soon and will be on tablets for five years. The only slight issue after the operation was my breast filled up with fluid and I grew a large breast. It is common post-op and they drained it. I was shocked at how much fluid was in there the first time and it has happened a couple of times since. It wasn’t particularly painful but very uncomfortable and felt like a hot water bottle strapped to your chest!

Much to my surprise, I experienced a post-result mental health problem, and I am a fairly strong-minded person. After weeks of running on adrenaline, I then had a guilty feeling because I am a survivor and friends of mine haven’t been or, like my best friend, are struggling to beat cancer.

You would think I would be doing cartwheels after being told I was clear but it took me a few days to get my head around that.

The word cancer is horrible to everybody. It was horrible to me. And I know when they said my wife had got cancer, all I could see for weeks in my mind was “cancer” like it was in neon lights. I used to think that cancer was an automatic death sentence. It is far from it. So many people go through it and come out the other side, and that’s certainly what I intend to do.