Breast cancer is usually associated with women, so when Thami Mabuza discovered a lump in his left breast, he thought it was a boil.

"I thought the boil would heal but months went by and it did not. I even forgot about the lump," Mabuza, 29, said.

"I was doing body building. So, one day, I realised that I had a pain on my left side. It was a lump. I have never met or heard of a man with breast cancer so I never thought it could be it," said Mabuza, a father of three from Cosmo City, Johannesburg.

How chemo helps body fight cancer

Sowetan interviewed Mabuza in recognition of October as breast awareness month.

Mabuza said after about seven months, he realised that the lump was still there.

"The lump was behind the nipple. I then went to the clinic to get it checked and was immediately referred to hospital. I went for a mammogram and they also did a biopsy.

"When the results came back, they said I had breast cancer. Life became difficult for me. I thought of John "Shoes" Moshoeu who lost his battle to cancer last year. I thought if a legend could die from cancer, how could I survive," Mabuza said.

He said it was at the Helen Joseph Breast Clinic where he was given hope.

"I went for an operation in May last year. There were four doctors in theatre. That gave me hope. The only fear I had was starting chemotherapy.

"My stepfather had cancer and I saw what chemotherapy made him look like. He was frail. Chemotherapy changed my life. I responded badly to the treatment at first," he said.

After four months, Mabuza was put on another treatment.

"As I saw my life changing and I was not getting better, I lost hope. But then one day I thought about my children and that if I die, they will struggle.

"I took a decision to stand up and fight for my life. I started being positive. My live-in lover was so supportive. My employers and tenants were there for me always," Mabuza said.

He said his body responded well to chemotherapy and in December he went for radiation.

"I am very open about being a breast cancer survivor.

"There are many men who are suffering in silence out there. They probably do not even know that they have cancer.

"It is important for people, including men, to get scanned for breast cancer. It is not a death sentence but a disease and can be cured," he said.

Mabuza encouraged other men to be health wise.

"We cannot die in silence when there is help available. Breast cancer can be deadly if left untreated for too long.

"Men must take a stand and fight it. Early detection is key. When I tell people that I had breast cancer they do not believe me.

"The scar from the operation bears proof. There is a need for an educational drive to teach people, especially men, about it. Breast cancer is real and it affects men too. That is the gospel I preach every day of my life," Mabuza said.

Rise in number of cases diagnosed

There were 145 new cases of breast cancer recorded by the National Cancer Registry in 2011.

Women had a high number of 6137, according to the 2011 report. There are no updated statistics. In 2009, there were 110 cases among men. Blacks accounted for 67 of the cases followed by whites at 31. Coloureds and Asian men accounted for 10 and two cases, respectively.

According to the Cancer Association of SA (Cansa), breast cancer was mostly associated with women because their hormonal status was different.

"Women are constantly exposed to fluctuations in hormones, especially oestrogen which is known to increase the risk. Men have fewer breast cells (which is why cases of breast cancer were rare among men)," said Cansa head of advocacy Magdalene Seguin.

The association said in its fact sheet on breast cancer in men that the disease was most common in men between the ages 40 to 80.

"About one in five men with breast cancer (20%) have a close relative who has also had breast cancer. Our genes store the biological information we inherit from our parents," the sheet reads in part.

"The most common type of male breast cancer is infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which is also a common type of breast cancer in women. Ductal carcinoma refers to cancers with origins in the ducts (tubular structures) of the breast, and the term infiltrating means that the cancer cells have spread beyond the ducts into the surrounding tissue. On the other hand, lobular cancers (cancers of the milk glands), common in women, are extremely rare in men since male breast tissue does not contain lobules."

'Super survivor' has conquered the odds

"Super survivor."

This is how breast cancer survivor-cum-counsellor Boitumelo Masilo describes herself.

But breast cancer has not been the only battle she has won.

Just last week when she went for chemotherapy for liver, bone and lung cancer, doctors told her that her body had responded quickly to the treatment and she would be put off chemotherapy and will just have to take pills.

"It was good news," Masilo said, with a smile.

It was back in April 2012 when Masilo from Sebokeng in the Vaal discovered a lump in her right breast while she was bathing.

"I was never stressed about having found a lump in my breast ... I am a very inquisitive person. I had seen posters on breast cancer. So when I felt the lump, I examined myself in front of the mirror and lay on the bed. It was a huge lump," she said.

Masilo said she went to Vanderbijlpark Clinic but received no help.

"A few days later, I went to the Sebekong Clinic where I was examined. I had to go back several times but I was not getting any joy. Most of the time, I would find that there were no doctors. I would return home without having being examined.

"One day, I stole the file. I had had enough and knew how serious breast cancer was.

"A friend told me about how good the Helen Joseph Breast Clinic was. I went there around October," Masilo said.

She said at the time, she was starting to feel pain in her breast.

"When I arrived at Helen Joseph, I was examined and scanned. My file was tagged red. I was officially diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2013.

"I immediately started chemotherapy at Johannesburg General Hospital (Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital) and was put on Red Devil (Adriamycin) for four months. I experienced hair loss," Masilo said.

But her body was not responding to the treatment and she was put on Taxol (paclitaxel). She had eight sessions every three weeks and it fought the disease.

"On August 18 2013, I went for an operation. I asked doctors to remove both breasts. I never liked them. I was a size 40DD. They were huge.

"Two months later, I went for radiation every day for three weeks." But that was not the end. "In January 2014, I went for a check-up and was told that I had liver, bone and lung cancer.

"I think the cancer spread to my body long before I started the treatment. It was not picked up because we were focusing on the breast. I was put on Xeloda (capecitabine). I am doing well now. I am a counsellor and work for Breast Health Foundation.

"I have the opportunity to share my journey and encourage those battling the disease. The battle can be won."

She said it was important to go for a mammogram because early diagnoses "saves lives".