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Each year, 200 men or people assigned male at birth are diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia.

With breast cancer often being considered solely a woman’s disease and no screening program in place, many men receive their cancer news while investigating unrelated conditions or after noticing a lump behind their nipple.

University of ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É Medical School PhD candidate Dr Steve Kinsey-Trotman is researching how a breast cancer diagnosis impacts men’s quality of life.

Dr Kinsey-Trotman, a surgeon, said male breast cancer is a difficult disease to study, and more research is needed to develop a best practice of care. He is asking for men with breast cancer to come forward and help him with his research by completing a survey so we can better understand the disease.

"Every man who has a story of living with breast cancer can help us see the disease more clearly, and ensure care and resources are directed where they can make the most difference," says Dr Kinsey-Trotman.

"We are looking for men who have had breast cancer within the past five years to answer a simple survey covering their general health at the time of diagnosis and their treatment, as well as their symptoms that may have occurred post treatment; all data will be non-identifiable.

"Men of any age living anywhere in Australia can participate in the study. I’m asking you to please come forward and help shape better care for men with breast cancer."

Today (Monday, 20 October) is Male Breast Cancer Awareness Day, highlighting that while rare in men, breast cancer can affect anyone.

Fortunately, in Australia, 87 per cent of men diagnosed with breast cancer are alive five years later, and most men fully recover.

Queensland's Rod Ritchie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 after finding a lump in his left nipple.

"Initially, this was dismissed by my GP but three months later I had a confirmed diagnosis and my nipple had inverted," says Rod.

"I had nine months of treatment which consisted of six sessions of chemotherapy, a mastectomy with total axillary lymph node removal and then 33 sessions of radiotherapy.

"It was an exhausting and stressful time, and I lost all my body hair, but I tried to keep my activities as normal as possible."

Rod, whose mother Roslyn died age 40 with breast cancer, said it was common for people to be surprised by his diagnosis.

"Breast cancer is a genderless disease," he said.

"The colour pink, used to denote the disease, is distracting men from being aware they can get it too.

"Research has shown that men are diagnosed later and therefore have a poorer prognosis.

"This survey is important because men are very often forgotten when it comes to breast cancer research and this survey will throw new light on their needs."

Breast Cancer Network Australia, the leading national consumer breast cancer organisation, is collaborating with the University to promote the survey and disseminate the future findings of this research.

To find out more, contact Dr Kinsey-Trotman on 03 6164 8048 or steve.kinsey-trotman@adelaide.edu.au.