A father with incurable cancer urges other men not to ‘die of ignorance’.

Brian Place, 60, from Newcastle, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 after discovering a pea-sized lump in his left breast and underwent a double mastectomy.

Initially, the operations manager delayed seeing his GP because he had “no idea” men could get the disease.

In 2010 he was discharged with cancer, but in February this year he discovered it had returned in his spine, collapsing one of his vertebrae, as well as his pelvis and liver.

Mr Place has been told he has a 50/50 chance of making it five years as his secondary diagnosis is stage 4 and incurable.

Speaking of his advice to other men, he said: “Don’t die of ignorance.

“This is a genderless disease, get yourself checked out and if you find anything suspicious get it checked out immediately.”

In 2005, Mr Place’s surgeon explained that he had most likely had the tumor for five or six years.

“Men must not be ostriches and bury their heads in the sand,” he said.

Around 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research UK.

Mr Place said he wanted to continue to “look on the bright side” and help raise awareness of the disease in men.

He is now a member of a virtual support group for men with breast cancer, Men’s VMU.

“Blokes especially, every single person you talk to, even on the men’s VMU, will tell you they had no idea men could get breast cancer,” he said.

“It gives the message, people are less ignorant, and the sooner they catch it, the better quality of life they’ll have, maybe even a cure.”