When Brett Wilson discovered a small, hard lump in his right breast one weekend, he was not too worried.
The 51-year-old sales manager, from Queensland's Sunshine Coast, booked a doctor's appointment just to be safe.
The GP recommended an ultrasound.
Mr Wilson has endured a mastectomy, chemotherapy and targeted radiation as part of his treatment. (Supplied: Brett Wilson)
"I put the ultrasound referral in the glove box for two months then finally went and got it done," Mr Wilson said.
"The lady said it would need a biopsy … within five days, the biopsy was done.
"Within two days, the doctor's surgery rang me and said, 'You have to come for an immediate appointment' — so I knew it wasn't good."
The father of four was diagnosed with grade 3 invasive ductal carcinoma.
"It was quite flooring, to be honest … you don't associate breast cancer with men," he said.
"I didn't think it could happen to me."
'Check your pecs'
Along with chemotherapy and radiation, Mr Wilson has undergone a mastectomy.
That included the removal of the nipple, surrounding tissue and some lymph nodes.
He said it had been an emotional rollercoaster, but his wife and children had helped immensely.
"My family is a massive support network to me," Mr Wilson said.
"We sort of looked at it and went, either this can define us or we can define it — so we chose the latter."
Mr Wilson and his wife Kristen are planning a family holiday once his treatment is complete. (Supplied: Brett Wilson)
November is Men's Health Awareness Month, and Mr Wilson said he wanted to encourage men to "check your pecs".
"I know it's weird for blokes to feel around their pecs or their breast, but that's the only way I found it," he said.
"I had an itch and I scratched it and went, 'Oh, there's a lump there', and then you move forward from there.
"Don't delay if you think something's not normal … please, please get out there and get it checked."
'Men won't talk about it'
Fellow breast cancer survivor Peter Bennett, 74, has praised Mr Wilson for sharing his story.
Mr Bennett was 60 when he was diagnosed, and said there was little support that he could find outside of hospital.
Peter Bennett says awareness hasn't improved significantly since his diagnosis. (Supplied: The Men's Breast Cancer Forum)
"My wife was my major support, and the doctors and nurses," Mr Bennett said.
"But after I was given the all-clear, all of a sudden it was like sitting on a three-legged chair and one of the legs got kicked away."
The former Queenslander, who now lives in New South Wales, created The Men's Breast Cancer Forum online to connect with other survivors.
"I found a guy that lived in the next suburb … we had a cup of coffee and I realised that was the first male person I'd spoken to that had breast cancer," Mr Bennett said.
"Men won't talk about it, they don't check themselves … and by the time they find out it's too late, kiss your arse goodbye."
He said there was also a lack of awareness among medical professionals, who often mistakenly assumed his wife Leslee had breast cancer instead of him.
"And I've seen signs, 'No males past this point' for a mammogram, and that was on a door in a major hospital in England," he said.
Mr Bennett says Leslee, his wife of 45 years, has been his biggest supporter. (Supplied: Peter Bennett)
Help at hand
Medical oncologist Belinda Kiely said the average woman's risk of developing breast cancer was about one in seven.
"About one in 600 men will develop breast cancer … it's a lot less commonly seen," Dr Kiely said.
Belinda Kiely says men can feel isolated when diagnosed with breast cancer. (Supplied: Dr Belinda Kiely)
"The fundraising for breast cancer is also very pink.
"I think that can also make men feel quite isolated when they get a diagnosis of what's sort of known as this pink, woman's disease."
Dr Kiely said regular breast screening was not recommended for men but they should still check their bodies, particularly as they get older.
"If you've got a lump, always let your doctor know," she said.
"It may not be breast cancer, but there's a small chance it could be … with the treatments we have today most men that are diagnosed are going to be cured."
She said the Breast Cancer Network of Australia had resources tailored to men.
She also congratulated Mr Wilson for speaking out.
"I think for anyone with a diagnosis of cancer, going public with that is brave," the oncologist said.
"This is nothing they've done wrong, it doesn't make them less of a man."