Abnormal cell growth patterns in the breast or cancer of the breast occurs mostly among females and is rare among males.
It is estimated that for every 100 breast cases, one involves a male victim.
The good news is survival rate of both male and female cancer patients has been increasing, especially if the malady is detected in its early stages.
For obvious reasons, cases of male breast cancer can be easily detected among men as they have lesser breast tissue mass compared to women.
In a physical examination, the masses of tissue abnormally developing in male breasts could be easily detected.
Nevertheless, the fact that the breast tissue among males is lesser also means that the cancer growth detected may have already spread to a wider area.
Men are also more likely to ignore small chest lumps as early signs of the disease because of its rare occurrence among males and may only seek for a medical opinion when an abnormal tissue mass has considerably grown in size.
There is also the macho factor wherein some men may show reluctance to have their breast lumps checked on some misguided concern that their masculinity could be put into question.
This paradoxical situation is very similar to men who suffer from the more common male disorder called gynecomastia or male breast enlargement.
As indicated earlier, the signs of male breast cancer are also similar to those found among a female afflicted with the dreaded disease.
Abnormal lumps appear in either of the breasts.
Bleeding of the nipple may also be experienced, which indicate that the cancer may already have reached the lymph nodes, and wherein immediate medical intervention is needed.
Another sign to look out for is an abnormality of the skin surrounding the area of the lump.
With breast cancer's rarity among males, general screening of men for the disease isn't usually practiced unlike among women who are advised to have yearly breast checkups after age 40.
The cause for both cancers of the male and female breasts has not yet been fully established. For males, several risk factors have been identified.
One is genetic, with some studies showing that males at risk are those who have several female family relatives afflicted with breast cancer.
Other risk factors include exposure to radiation and high estrogen levels which may result from obesity and cirrhosis of the liver.
Men with these high risk factors are often advised to undergo mammography and/or genetic testing. Other diagnostic methods include breast ultrasound and biopsy.
There are several steps that may go into male breast cancer treatment, and the specific method applied may depend on the type or stage of the disease.
Mastectomy or removing the breast surgically, followed by radiation and chemotherapy are the ways of treating breast cancer.
These procedures, essentially the same as those used in female sufferers, should be discussed closely between the doctor and the patient.
Also up for discussion prior to actual treatment patient preparation for the treatment or operation, possible side-effects and the expected prognosis or outcome of the procedure.
males contracting such cancer is a very rare case which is only 1% out of all the cases. However, all males have the risk of 0.1% of developing such cancer in their lifetime.
Although studies shown that the chances of males developing breast cancer are between the ages from 60 to 70 that do not mean that younger men do not have the chance of developing such cancer.
Therefore, it is best for every man to understand & find out the symptoms, just to play safe if they feel there are some changes to their breasts or nipples.
What are the symptoms for male breast cancer?
- Firm mass located below the nipple. (The mass is not painful.)
- Ulceration of the nipple's skin.
- Puckering or dimpling of the nipple.
- Redness or scaling of the nipple.
- Nipple retraction. (Nipple turning inward.)
- Discharge from the nipple. (The discharge is either bloody or opaque.)
If the cancer cells had spread to the bones, there might be symptoms of bone pain.
If the cancer is at a more advanced stage, other symptoms of breast cancers include malaise, weakness and weight loss (which is similar to other types of cancers too).
If any of the symptoms occurs to you, please find a doctor to examine your body as soon as possible as your life might be in potential danger.
Cancer is a deadly disease and if it is not discovered at an early stage, the chances of living is very slim.
The possible causes of male breast cancer are:
- Age. The risk of contracting such cancer at an older age is higher.
- Family History. If any of your family members had ever developed such cancer, please be extra careful.
- Exposure to Radiation. Radiation exposure due to any reasons might cause cancer.
- Liver Diseases. This results in lower levels of male hormones which increases the chance of developing such cancer.
- Estrogen Therapy. If they had gone through any estrogen treatment, the chances of contracting such cancer are higher too.
- Klinefelter's Syndrome. Male with 2 or more female chromosomes increases their chances to contract breast cancer.
Please be mindful of your health and live healthily to decrease the chances of contracting cancer.
However, if you ever find symptoms of male breast cancer occurring to you, do not feel that it is a shameful thing for males to contract such cancer; instead you should be checking up on the best clinics in town to diagnose your problem!
Men diagnosed with cancer are at a good chance for cure if it is detected at an early stage. The symptoms of cancer must not be ignored.
A breast lump is the most common symptom. Most cases are diagnosed when the disease has reached an advanced state.
The following are some of the symptoms of it:
- A lump that is painless in nature
- Thickening of the breast tissue
- The skin covering the breast undergoes dimpling, puckering, redness, or scaling.
- Nipple may turn inward. Redness and scaling is also possible.
- Discharge from the nipple
Consult a doctor if signs and symptoms persist.
The causes of cancer are not very clear. Breast cells that grow abnormally are an indicator for cancer.
These cells tend to divide more quickly than healthy cells.
The cells that accumulate form a tumor that may spread to a nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or other body parts.
All individuals are born with a certain amount of breast tissue. The tissue is comprised of lobules, which are milk-producing glands.
The lobules are ducts that transport milk to the nipples.
Women develop much more breast tissue during puberty in comparison with men.
Men can develop breast cancer due to a small presence of breast tissue.
The following are the types of breast cancer in men:
1. Cancer of the milk ducts: Ductal carcinoma is the most common form of it. Almost all cancers originate in the breast ducts.
2. Cancer of the milk-producing glands: Lobular carcinoma is not a common characteristic in men as they have few lobules in the breast tissue.
3. Cancer that spreads to the nipple: In some instances, breast cancer can originate in the ducts but spread to the nipples. This can cause scaly skin around the nipple. This is also known as Paget's disease.
Genes that increase the risk of breast cancer
In some cases, men inherit genetic mutations from their parents, which increase the risk of breast cancer.
A mutation in a specific gene known as BRCA2 can increase the risk of breast and prostrate cancer.
Generally, this gene helps in prevention of cancer by the production of proteins that prevent cells from growing abnormally. However, once they undergo mutation their roles change.
Diagnosis of breast cancer in Men
Diagnosis of breast cancer involves a biopsy procedure.
Most often an abnormality in the mammogram leads to a biopsy, many other times, the woman may have felt a lump in the breast or the physician examining the patient may have felt a lump in the breast.
Biopsy is the procedure by which a small part of the breast tissue is removed and examined under the microscope.
A typical beast cancer would show classic features of breast cancer.
Sometimes the abnormality may be a non-invasive breast cancer or so called carcinoma in situ.
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