A man who suffered from breast cancer is set to model in a fashion show to raise awareness about the condition.
Tony Herbert, of Wigston, will be taking part in a show in London for Breast Cancer Care, alongside 22 women and one other man who have all suffered from the disease.
He will be modelling a variety of clothes, including outfits by designers Stella McCartney, Temperley London and Jenny Packham, as well as high-street items.
"I'm terrified," he said. "But I want to show people you can overcome cancer and live a normal life again."
Tony first noticed the symptoms of breast cancer in August 2010, when one of his nipples became sore.
Despite finding a lump in his chest in the October of that year, the 67-year-old decided not to visit the doctor and instead assumed it "must be a cyst".
Five months later, after his wife, Brenda, felt the lump, Tony finally visited his GP.
He was scheduled in for a breast scan, before having a stem biopsy which confirmed he had breast cancer.
"I could tell by the doctor's face that it was cancer," he said. "It was a devastating thing to be told."
Tony had a mastectomy before undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Altogether, he had about 10 months of treatment
"I just never thought it could happen to me," he said. "I never considered it a possibility, if I'm being honest.
"When I first noticed my nipples were sore I looked it up on the internet and thought, 'I can't be one of the few men that get breast cancer'.
"When the doctor told me the news, I thought, how unlucky am I?"
Two years after being treated, Tony says he is "nearly back to being myself".
Although he attends regular check-ups at hospital, he no longer has treatment.
Now, he has made it his mission to raise awareness of breast cancer in males.
"I feel there's a lot of publicity for women and they are so aware but you don't really hear anything about men getting breast cancer," he said. "All men should periodically check their chests."
Tony is training to give one-to-one support to men who have, or have had, breast cancer.
"I think people naturally assume only women can get breast cancer, but it can effect anyone," he said.
Tony will be taking part in the fashion show at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday, October 1.
According to Breast Cancer Research UK, about 350 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK.
To buy tickets for the Breast Cancer Care event, call 0345 092 0806 or, e-mail:
theshow@breastcancercare.org.uk
To donate to Tony's catwalk challenge, visit:
www.justgiving.com/herbie47
