When Madelyn Dickens first tells people that her dad has breast cancer, most people react the same way. There's usually a long pause, then a confused look, and then the inevitable question: “Wait, did you say breast cancer?” It’s a reaction she’s grown used to, but also one that has motivated her to take action.
“They kept telling him, ‘You’re one in a million,’ and that didn’t make him feel special, it made him feel alone,” she said.
Dickens is a second-year medical student at Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. For the past year and a half, she’s been working to raise awareness about male breast cancer, a topic that’s rarely talked about and often completely overlooked, even in medical communities. What began as a personal family experience has evolved into a growing grassroots advocacy project. Her goal is simple: get more people talking about male breast cancer to help catch it early and improve survival rates.
Cancer, in some form, has always been a part of Dickens’ life. Her dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer when she was only 1 year old. But when he was diagnosed again, this time with breast cancer, it felt different. She remembers thinking how strange it was that no one, herself included, ever thought that men could get breast cancer. That gap in awareness sparked Dickens to start asking questions and finding ways to do something meaningful.
It didn’t take long for her to find HIS Breast Cancer Awareness, a nonprofit based in Margate City, N.J., focused on educating people about breast cancer in men. The organization’s mission deeply resonated with Dickens, so she reached out. Soon, she received materials, flyers, pamphlets and awareness bracelets in blue and pink, the colors meant to reflect both male and female patients. She began handing the bracelets to friends, sparking conversations whenever people asked what they meant. It was a small start, but it was exactly the awareness-raising efforts she wanted to be a part of.
Dickens recalled when her dad first received the organization’s T-shirt, he was hesitant to wear it. “But when he finally wore it to the gym, something shifted," she said. “It gave him a sense of strength, and now he wears it with pride.”
Bringing HIS Breast Cancer Awareness’ message to Michigan is Dickens’ goal. One of her projects is getting pamphlets about male breast cancer into local primary care offices, where patients can stumble upon them while waiting to be seen. She hopes that even if someone doesn’t talk to their doctor about it right away, the idea will be planted, and maybe it’ll come up the next time, or when it matters.
Beyond community outreach, she’s also working within the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine to influence how male breast cancer is taught. With the help of J’Aimee Lippert, D.O., assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, Dickens is pushing for conversations with course directors and department heads, asking them to reconsider the way breast cancer is presented in the curriculum. Even simple things, like changing the way professors say, “women with breast cancer” to “patients with breast cancer,” could help shift the narrative and remind students and future doctors that men can be affected, too.
Dickens is receiving positive feedback, and many people have been surprised by how unaware they were about male breast cancer. The more she brings up the topic, whether in class, during casual conversations or at educational events with physicians, the more she sees people are receptive and willing to learn. She’s even had physicians admit that they don’t talk about it enough, and they should. That kind of openness keeps Dickens going, especially on days when juggling medical school, her personal life and advocacy work can feel overwhelming.
One of her biggest challenges is timing. Dickens remains patient, knowing meaningful change takes time. She also acknowledges that topics like male breast cancer create discomfort, leading many to avoid the issue altogether. Gender stigma, she said, plays a major role, as breast cancer is often viewed solely as a woman’s issue. This exclusion leaves men and gender-diverse individuals overlooked, despite their risk.
“Labels don’t erase risk,” she said.
Dickens took her advocacy a step further by running in the Fargo Marathon on May 31. She represented HIS Breast Cancer Awareness, wearing their logo as she runs. It’s a meaningful moment for her, combining her love of running with a cause she deeply cares about, and one more way to spread the word to others.
Looking ahead, she hopes to one day measure the impact of her efforts through research. One idea she and Dr. Lippert have discussed is evaluating community awareness before and after placing educational materials in clinics. It’s just a concept for now, but one she’s excited to bring to life when the time is right.
When asked what she’d change on a national level if she had the power, Dickens emphasizes the importance of body awareness.
“Understanding what’s normal for your body is empowering,” she said. "We should be encouraging people to pay attention to their health awareness, which can lead to early detection, and that can make all the difference,” she said.
As for others who might want to get involved in this kind of advocacy, her advice is simple: don’t underestimate the impact of small actions. “Just starting the conversation matters,” Dickens added. “You don’t have to raise thousands of dollars or start a nonprofit. Even telling a friend or asking a question can be enough to make a difference.”
At the end of the day, that’s exactly what Dickens is doing, one conversation, one flyer, one mile at a time. Her father’s experience might have sparked the fire, but it’s her drive to create a more informed and compassionate medical community that keeps it burning. And with each step she takes, she’s paving the way for others to speak up, learn more and take action.
By Alex Ziouras