Breast Cancer: Men Can Get It Too

As breast cancer awareness month comes to an end, we will like to focus our attention to a topic not frequently discussed:  Breast cancer in males.

Male Breast Tissue

Like females, males are born with breast cells and tissue.  Under normal circumstances, full breast development doesn’t occur in males, and their breast cells remain concentrated under their nipple areolar area.  Unsurprisingly, breast cancer in men commonly presents as a hard lump or an abnormal change in or around the nipple and areola.

Epidemiology

Breast cancer in men is rare, with roughly 2000 cases annually in the United States.  While men of any age can be affected, this type of cancer is more common among older men.

 

Risk factors include:

• Advanced age (60-70)
• Radiation exposure
• High blood levels of the female hormone estrogen
• Obesity
• A family history of breast cancer, especially cancer associated with a mutation of the BRCA2 gene 
• Liver disease

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer in males is similar to that for women.  As in the case of the latter demographic, early detection is the key for survival.

Mammograms are the gold standard for detection.  And they easily differentiate cancer from gynecomastia, the most common  breast disorder affecting men.  But given that screening for breast cancer is not routine for males, a mammogram is highly unlikely to be performed unless a patient presents with a chief complaint involving the nipple area, or an abnormality is found there during a physical exam.

Lack of awareness of the disease in males means they are likely to ignore or explain away early symptoms and signs, for example, a hard lump.  Unfortunately, by the time a diagnosis is finally made, the cancer is often already at a later stage.  This unfortunate fact explains the higher breast cancer mortality rates in men.

The Bottom Line

While the odds of a man getting breast cancer are very small, ignorance about the disease can have serious consequences.  If you’re a male who notices something odd or different about your breasts, do yourself a favor and don’t hesitate to seek a full evaluation. early detection is the key to breast cancer treatment!

 

For more information please visit:

Breastcancer.org