When it comes to the topic of breast cancer, men are often forgotten
in the discourse. Although it is extremely rare for men to develop
breast cancer, it is important to remember it can and does happen and is
not exclusively a woman’s disease.
Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, we believe it’s important to be aware of all the people this disease affects – including the guys.
So while you may be familiar with the facts and statistics surrounding breast cancer in women, you may not have been exposed to as much of it relating to men. Here are a few of the basics we all should know:
During puberty women secrete hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that develop and grow this tissue.
Although men also produce these hormones, they do so at a much lower quantity. Since there is still some breast tissue present in men, however, they occasionally do develop the disease, with the most common type starting in the milk ducts.
What are some of the risks?
As a man gets older, his likelihood of developing breast cancer also
increases. Most men who develop the disease are between the ages of 60
and 70. Other risk factors, as outlined by WebMD and the Susan B. Komen Foundation, may include the following.
Because early detection increases the chances of survival, it is best to see a health care professional as soon as a change is detected.
Diagnoses and treatment in men are similar to those in women with breast cancer. Physical exams, examination of tissue samples and mammograms are common in detecting the disease.
For treatment, doctors may use radiation, chemotherapy and endocrine therapy among other options.
One big difference with men is how they respond to hormone treatment.
The ACS explains “Approximately 77% of male breast cancers have hormone receptors, that is, they have specific sites on the cancer cells where specific hormones like estrogen can act. As a result, hormonal treatment is more likely to be effective.”
Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, we believe it’s important to be aware of all the people this disease affects – including the guys.
So while you may be familiar with the facts and statistics surrounding breast cancer in women, you may not have been exposed to as much of it relating to men. Here are a few of the basics we all should know:
How common is breast cancer in men?
Men are 100 times less likely than women to develop breast cancer and account for only 1 percent of all cases. That number is still alarming however, when you put it into perspective. The American Cancer Society estimates 2,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer will occur in men during 2013 with 410 deaths.How can men develop breast cancer?
Regardless of our gender, we are all born with a small amount of breast tissue made up of fat, milk-producing glands called lobules and milk carrying ducts.During puberty women secrete hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that develop and grow this tissue.
Although men also produce these hormones, they do so at a much lower quantity. Since there is still some breast tissue present in men, however, they occasionally do develop the disease, with the most common type starting in the milk ducts.
What are some of the risks?
As a man gets older, his likelihood of developing breast cancer also
increases. Most men who develop the disease are between the ages of 60
and 70. Other risk factors, as outlined by WebMD and the Susan B. Komen Foundation, may include the following.- Family history: If a man has a close relative who has developed breast cancer, it is more likely that he will too.
- Klinefelter’s syndrome: This rare genetic condition occurs in men who are born with two X chromosomes instead of one and is related to high levels of estrogen in the body. Those who have this condition are at a 20 to 50 time higher risk than those without.
- History of radiation exposure of the chest.
- BRCA2 gene mutations: Both men and women with an inherited BRCA2 gene mutation are predisposed to develop breast cancer, but a higher percent of breast cancer cases are tied to this mutation in men than in women. While only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers in women are due to a gene mutation, that number goes up to 40 percent for men. It’s interesting to note, however, that women still have a higher risk with this mutation than do men (40-60 by the age of 70 in women as opposed to only 7 percent in men). To learn more about BReast CAncer genes, click here.
- Heavy alcohol use, chronic liver disease, obesity and certain hormone drugs used to treat prostate cancer may increase estrogen levels in the body, making breast cancer more likely.
What are the symptoms?
Breast cancer in men presents itself in much the same way as it does in women. The most common sign is a painless lump, hard knot or thickening in the breast or chest area. Other common signs include:- Change in breast size or shape
- Dimpling, puckering or skin redness in the breast area
- Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
- Inverted nipple or pulling in of other parts of the breast
- Nipple discharge
Diagnoses & Treatment
Because many of these abnormalities seem less suspicious in men, they tend to hold off going to the doctor until the symptoms become severe, at which point the cancer may have gotten to a more advanced stage.Because early detection increases the chances of survival, it is best to see a health care professional as soon as a change is detected.
Diagnoses and treatment in men are similar to those in women with breast cancer. Physical exams, examination of tissue samples and mammograms are common in detecting the disease.
For treatment, doctors may use radiation, chemotherapy and endocrine therapy among other options.
One big difference with men is how they respond to hormone treatment.
The ACS explains “Approximately 77% of male breast cancers have hormone receptors, that is, they have specific sites on the cancer cells where specific hormones like estrogen can act. As a result, hormonal treatment is more likely to be effective.”
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