Man says friends were being ‘silly boys’ and twisted his nipples on Las Vegas trip. A week later, he learns he had breast cancer
A little pinch that saved his life in the end.
Having alcohol in your system during a boys’ trip is often a recipe for mischief. But for one group of friends, a prank ended up possibly saving a life when a little nipple twist led to a man discovering he had breast cancer.
In 2021, 62-year-old Robert Pfleghardt of Vienna, Virginia, was on a trip to Las Vegas with friends when one of them jokingly twisted his nipples as they were having drinks. Just as with any other body part, twisting or pinching a nipple can cause pain for a brief moment. But in Pfleghardt’s case, the pain lasted even after he returned home, per SWNS.
“They are good friends of mine, and we were being silly boys having drinks,” Pfleghardt told the outlet. “He’d probably say I started it, but my friend reached over to me and gave me a ‘titty twister’—where he pinched my nipple. It really hurt.”
Breast cancer in men is rare
Pfleghardt realized something was wrong when the pain from the prank lingered, and he discovered what appeared to be a small lump, about the size of an eraser, next to his nipple days later. At first, he dismissed it, believing “guys don’t get breast cancer.” However, after a hospital visit and a mammogram, he learned he had breast cancer that may have spread to his lymph nodes.
Pfleghardt described the experience as surreal, and based on his recollection, even the hospital staff didn’t expect the 62-year-old man to get a mammogram. “It was really weird getting a mammogram. You kind of laugh. They called out for Mrs. Pfleghardt instead of Mr. Pfleghardt,” Pfleghardt said.
Hearing his diagnosis, however, left Pfleghardt feeling like he was in “zombie mode” when he realized the gravity of the situation. “Initially, I laughed. You know, it’s not funny, but a dude getting breast cancer,” he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), male breast cancer is rare, but it does occur. In fact, about one out of every 100 breast cancer cases is diagnosed in a man. For men, signs that they might have this life-threatening disease include swelling or a lump in the breast, irritation or pain in the nipple area, redness or flaky skin, and nipple discharge.
There are also several factors that can increase a man’s risk of developing breast cancer, including family history, genetic mutations, previous radiation or hormone therapy treatments, and old age. Overall health plays a significant role as well; conditions like obesity, liver disease, and certain testicular disorders can also elevate the risk.
A trip that saved his life
Doctors advised Pfleghardt to have 19 of his lymph nodes removed and to undergo a double mastectomy to stop the cancer from spreading. He ended up getting a lumpectomy on Jan. 21, 2022, instead—a surgery that only removes the breast tumor and a small amount of tissue.
While Pfleghardt was initially worried about surgery, he was “out and about” within the next day or two. To ensure he was free of cancer, he underwent 29 days of radiation therapy, an experience he described as “looked like it cooked me” because his skin turned a “crispy brown” color. He was later prescribed tamoxifen, a drug that lowers the risk of cancer.
Although Pfleghardt had to go through surgery and several rounds of treatment, he credits his friend who decided to give him a good pinch with possibly saving his life. “My friend [who] pinched me saved my life. I wouldn’t have found the lump otherwise, and it would have spread,” Pfleghardt said.
Cleveland Clinic noted that men tend to delay seeing a medical professional and don’t find out about the cancer diagnosis until it’s too late. A study showed a mortality rate of 12.4% in men during the first stage of breast cancer, and 46% by the time it reaches stage three.
Pfleghardt hoped that his experience would serve as a reminder that “more men get breast cancer than they know, and it spreads without them realizing.” But one thing is for sure, according to Pfleghardt: “Boys’ trips save lives.”
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