BREAST
CANCER IN MEN... IT HAPPENS!
Breast cancer is
traditionally thought of as a female problem. Men,
however, are as susceptible to the disease as women are.
In many ways, the disease appears similarly in both
sexes.
Male
breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer)
cells form in the tissues of the breast. In 2007, approximately
2,030 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men
and 400 of those men will die. Men at any age may
develop breast cancer, but it is usually detected in men
between 60 and 70 years of age. Male breast cancer makes
up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer.
Radiation exposure, high levels of estrogen (sometimes
caused by liver disease or a genetic disorder), and a
family history of breast cancer can increase a man’s
risk of developing breast cancer. Male breast cancer is
sometimes caused by inherited gene mutations.
Hereditary breast cancer makes up approximately 5% to
10% of all breast cancer.
Men
with breast cancer usually have lumps that can be felt.
A painless lump, usually
discovered by the patient himself, is by far the most
common first symptom of male breast cancer. Typically,
the lump appears right beneath the breast, where breast
tissue is concentrated. A lump, however, is seldom the
only symptom. Men are more likely than women to have
nipple discharge (sometimes bloody) and signs of local
spreading, including nipple retraction, fixation to the
skin or the underlying tissues, and skin ulceration.
Most male breast cancers are not large.
Survival for men with breast cancer is similar to that
for women with breast cancer when their stage at
diagnosis is the same. Breast cancer in men, however, is
often diagnosed at a later stage, and thus may be less
likely to be cured. Often a
delay may in part occur because some men perceive breast
cancer as a flaw in their masculinity and are reluctant
to acknowledge its presence. This is exactly why you
should ask your doctor to examine your breasts for any
signs of cancer during your next checkup.
Source: National Cancer Institute
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