I was just watching a video on how much more seriously men's problems are taken compared to women's issues. How women are dismissed - issues are often attributed to hormonal, are you on your period, are you pregnant etc.
This brought me to the realisation that I have just been through the same thing. I had worrying symptoms - my nipple was bleeding. I saw a male consultant at the Breast Clinic at the hospital. He examined me, told me there was nothing wrong, and that I should just moisturise my nipple, then dismissed me from the clinic.
Months later, nipple still bleeding, I saw a female consultant surgeon at the same breast clinic. She took me seriously, and within a week I was in surgery to try and find the problem. What she found was breast cancer - DCIS and IDC admixed stage 2. It is invasive and has spread, and I had a partial mastectomy yesterday with lymph node removal. I also lost the nipple.
The male consultant told me to moisturise my nipple!
Considering on average tumours double in size every six months, if I hadn't pressed for further investigation where would I have been in another six months? My tumour would've doubled to over 5cm, and would probably have been at Stage 4. But yeah, I had a dry nipple according to the man.
The problem is real, sadly.
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