The Guy With Stage 4 Breast Cancer / Jake Messier

Less than 1% of breast cancer diagnoses belong to men—leaving Jake Messier on a mission to demand representation in a system that often forgets they exist.Jake Messier, a former Marine and marketer turned patient advocate living with stage IV male breast cancer, joins Brigitte Cutshall to talk about finding a lump while putting on deodorant, navigating the isolated reality of a traditionally female-centered diagnosis, and confronting the reality that male breast cancer cases have gone largely unstudied for decades. Jake shares how he turned his diagnosis into advocacy, becoming the first male patient appointed to a Susan G. Komen board, and opens up about vulnerability, finding daily joy, and making every moment count.3 Takeaways:(1) Male breast cancer is rare (about 1 in 726 men) but under-researched — there's never been dedicated funding comparing male vs. female cases.(2) Social stigma, not disease severity, drives higher mortality in men — most boys are never taught to check for lumps the way girls are.(3) Saying your scariest fears out loud — to a partner, a doctor, anyone — takes away their power.Follow Jake on TikTok and Instagram @theguywithstage4breastcanceror visit theguywithstage4breastcancer.com for resources and direct support. Don't forget to subscribe to Real Things Living for more authentic, unfiltered conversations on living with purpose!