Men urged to monitor chest health after chef’s cancer diagnosis

A chef has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and is now urging all men to regularly check their chests, according to The Independent.

Mat Kelly, 42, first noticed a lump last October while working in Chicago, helping open a new restaurant. After visiting a general practitioner, he was referred for further tests before receiving his cancer diagnosis.

A PET scan revealed that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and bones, mainly in his spine, a development he described as a “gut punch.” He started chemotherapy, which failed, and two further PET scans showed that his tumors had grown, prompting him to reconsider his treatment options.

Although his cancer is not curable, Mat began using Enhertu, a therapy that combines targeted medication and chemotherapy, which is helping him “keep the cancer under control while living life to the fullest.”

“I’m currently in a cancer limbo, where I have no metabolic signs of the disease, and the only thing keeping it under control is treatment. I’m on chemotherapy every three weeks for the rest of my life, but right now there’s no cancer inside me, so I’ve had an extraordinary response,” he said.

“Check your chest, and if you feel anything unusual, go to the doctor. For me, it’s extremely important that people don’t delay because it can make the difference between life and death,” Mat urged men.

Later scans showed the cancer was stage 4, with spread to lymph nodes, bones, and the spine. He underwent “harsh” chemotherapy with Docetaxel and Phesgo, but after three months realized the treatment was ineffective.

After many difficulties, Mat started therapy with Enhertu, experiencing severe side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, burning neuropathy, and ulcers in his nose and mouth.

However, the breast tumors shrank by 30–40 percent, and there were no longer metastases in his spine.

Mat emphasized the importance of self-examination and support from men’s breast cancer groups like Men’s VMU, adding that “it has a huge impact to have people who have gone through or are going through the same thing, making the world feel a little less lonely.”