Among the hundreds of pink figures symbolizing women diagnosed with breast cancer in Cyprus, only a few light blue ones stand out. They represent men who have faced a diagnosis that many still consider to be exclusively a women’s issue. In 2025, 840 new cases were recorded in women and 6 in men. Behind every number, every statistic, there is a person, a family, and a unique story. One of these is the story of Stelios Michael, who in February 2014, at the age of 51, was confronted with a reality that changed his life. Today, he shares his personal journey, sending his own message about awareness, prevention, and the strength to face even what you never expected would happen to you.
“I discovered it in the bathroom, I can tell you. It was two or three days before my wife and I were going on a trip, which is why I remember the date. I didn’t think much of it, to tell you the truth. It felt like a little pimple—that’s what it was like. When I was done, I mentioned it to my wife. To be honest, she was worried too. She told me, “I want us to get that checked out.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
At his wife’s urging, he contacted the Dermatology Department at Nicosia General Hospital and spoke with its head at the time, who asked him to schedule an appointment immediately upon his return from the trip. He did just that, and the examination was performed by a general surgeon.
“The truth was that the moment the doctor touched the area, he told us right away, in no uncertain terms, that it was something serious. And we started going in for biopsies and all that.”
Four days of waiting—which, however, seemed endless. For Mr. Michael, every hour until he learned the results was filled with anxiety. At noon on Tsiknopempti, he recalls, the phone rang, and the moment had come to hear the diagnosis that would change his life.
“Back then, on Thursdays, we used to have lunch at the office. Right after I finished eating, my friend, the doctor, called me and said, ‘Stelios, it’s something serious; come in tomorrow so we can get started.’ Okay, at that moment you realize it. The ground falls out from under your feet.”
Hearing the diagnosis of cancer in my right breast was a huge shock. Twelve years later, Mr. Michael remembers that day as if it were yesterday.
“After a while, I pulled myself together and said I had to face it. I told my family about it. The truth is, I told my friends, too. Most of the men had no idea. And back in 2014, male breast cancer was even less understood.”
Treatment began immediately, marking the start of a difficult journey. A battle filled with physical and emotional trials, which required strength and patience, but ultimately made him a winner.
“And it’s exactly the same process as for women. Just so you understand, after the surgery to remove my breast, I underwent chemotherapy that was extremely difficult—and the radiation treatments were also very, very difficult. I can say—just to give you an idea—that during my first round of chemotherapy, I may have even gone into a coma at one point. We called the doctor, and she explained what we needed to do. It was the first time. After that, things got much easier. But if you have to undergo chemotherapy, you have to do it. It’s for your own good.”
Stelios Michael had managed to leave cancer behind him, along with the wounds and scars of a difficult period that gradually began to heal. The battle, however, required constant vigilance. For ten whole years, he underwent the necessary tests regularly, with mammograms, ultrasounds, and blood tests all yielding reassuring results. Until, in 2025, the cancer returned to his life, this time in his left breast, once again turning his daily routine upside down.
“I told my wife, ‘You know, I feel like I shouldn’t go.’ She said to me, ‘You’ve been going for 11 years; you have to go now, since you need to get your checkup.’ So I went. I realized it right away, because over 11 years we’d gotten used to how they examine you. I spoke with the doctor and asked, ‘Did we find anything?’ And he replied, ‘We found something.’ When I saw that he was calling other doctors to come in, I asked him, “Are we going for a biopsy?” “Yes,” he replied. That’s when I realized it—all those old memories came flooding back.”
This time, the course of treatment was smoother, as he points out, since the cancer was detected at a very early stage. The early diagnosis proved crucial, allowing for immediate treatment of the disease.
“My second experience was definitely much—much easier, because I didn’t undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy. And that’s why they say, prevention is everything.”
The Stigma Behind a Male Diagnosis
Scientific studies show that breast cancer can significantly affect a man’s mental health, especially in a society where it is still primarily considered a “women’s disease.” In the case of Stelios Michael, however, fortunately this factor did not have a negative impact.
“To begin with, I didn’t know that men can get breast cancer, too. And to tell you the truth, almost none of the men I talk to know about it either. Sure, at first it can affect you a little psychologically. But the truth is, I had my wife and my daughter by my side. With their strength, I got through this as well. Thank God, we’re doing just fine.”
Stelios Michael chose to speak openly about his experience, turning his own journey into an opportunity to educate and raise awareness among other men. As he explains, through his own journey, he wanted to urge them not to neglect their health and not to view preventive screenings as a taboo.
“I don’t keep it bottled up inside; I bring it out into the open and talk about it. I can say that, fortunately, it happened to me and not to one of my other friends. ‘Thankfully,’ because I prepared them, explained it to them, and told them that from now on they need to get checked in whatever way they can—even in the bathroom on their own.”
And she sends a message to both men and women regarding prevention.
“Besides women, men need to get checked, too. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, because, as we’ve said, this is a disease—and ultimately, it’s not just a women’s disease; it’s a men’s disease too. In 2025, there were 6 new cases of breast cancer in men. Which means they do exist. And you can’t say, ‘It won’t happen to me.’ That’s something no one can say.”
His message is clear: every change in our bodies deserves our attention and shouldn’t be ignored, even when it seems insignificant. He recalls just how small the first sign he noticed was.
“Don’t expect to find a big lump. For me, to give you an idea, it was a very, very small pimple, something like this. But whatever you feel, don’t let it go unnoticed—and now, with the resources available, you can book an appointment right away at any time and get a screening that takes no more than 5 to 10 minutes.”
In closing, Stelios Michael expresses his gratitude to the staff of the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center for the care and support he has received over the years. His story serves as a reminder that breast cancer affects men as well, and that early recognition of symptoms can make all the difference.
