Josh Crew of Port Macquarie speaks out to raise awareness about male breast cancer

Mr Crew, of Port Macquarie on NSW's North Coast, was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer, after noticing one of his nipples was inverted.

His first reaction was "why me?" coupled with a feeling of shock.

It was the start of a medical whirlwind which included a full left mastectomy and the removal of 17 lymph nodes.

Cancer had spread to five of those lymph nodes.

Mr Crew is amid chemotherapy and a five-week course of radiotherapy is next.

He encourages men to see a doctor if something is amiss.

"If you find something - it can be the smallest change - get checked," Mr Crew said.

"I want people to know breast cancer does happen to men and I just want to get more information for men out there."

In Australia, one in 716 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and around 150 Australian men will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation director of research investment Dr Samantha Oakes said although breast cancer was more common in women, men could get breast cancer too.

Dr Oakes said it was important to get the message out that breast cancer didn't discriminate.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation has a network of community ambassadors, as well as fundraisers, who have been directly or indirectly affected by male breast cancer and help spread awareness.

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Mr Crew is keen to become an advocate in Australia for men with breast cancer and hopes to start a support group.

In the meantime, he has joined a US-based male breast cancer support group on Facebook.

Mr Crew paid tribute to the support received from family including his mother Marie, father Phil, brothers Jamie and DJ, and nephews Saxon and Blaze who shaved their heads in a fundraiser for Mr Crew and his family.