Contents:
- Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Breast cancer strikes men, too
- Symptoms of breast cancer in men
- When to look for medical help?
- Why can breast cancer occur in men?
- Treatment of breast cancer in men
- Possible recovery
- Reducing your risk
Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Breast cancer strikes men, too
Breast cancer is often regarded as a condition that only infects women, but it turns out men also can develop the cancer. Cancer can develop in small breast tissue in men, precisely behind the nipple. The initial symptoms that often occur are there are hard lumps and no pain in one chest.
However, a common cause of lumps in the breast is caused by a condition called gynaecomastia. This is very natural, and is a condition that is not cancerous and makes chest tissue enlarged in men.
Breast cancer in men can also cause problems with the nipples, such as the nipples darting in (retracting) or secreting fluid.
Symptoms of breast cancer in men
The main symptom of breast cancer in men is a hard lump on one chest. Lumps generally don't always hurt.
Lumps are usually located below the nipple and aerola (dark colored circles around the nipples). Symptoms that may also occur, although rare, are:
- Putting in (retraction)
- Nipples become hard and irritated and look sore (nipple on the nipple)
- Liquid comes out of the nipple
Other symptoms usually only occur if the cancer has spread from one breast to another part of the body, such as bones, liver, or lungs. This is often called metastatic breast cancer.
Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer include:
- Bones hurt
- Swelling of the lymph glands, usually in or around the armpit
- Short breath
- Feel tired all the time
- Feeling sick
- Itchy and yellowing skin on the skin and eyes
When to look for medical help?
You should immediately visit a doctor if you notice a lump in the breast or if you have a problem related to the nipple, such as sores, or discharge.
This problem does not always mean breast cancer, but you still need further examination.
Why can breast cancer occur in men?
The cause of breast cancer in men is still unclear, but many factors have been known to increase your risk of developing this condition, including:
- Age - generally breast cancer is found in men over 60 years of age
- Has a family history of breast cancer (male or female)
- Obesity - 30 or more body mass index
Treatment of breast cancer in men
In general, surgery will be performed to remove cancer in the affected part of the chest. Usually surgery will be followed by long-term hormone blocking therapy using drugs, usually tamoxifen.
Tamoxifen can help block the effects of hormones on breast tissue that have been shown to develop cancer cells. This drug should prevent the return of cancer. In some cases, radiotherapy or chemotherapy will be used for the same purpose.
Possible recovery
The possibility of recovering for breast cancer in men is not as good as in women. This is due to a lack of awareness of the condition and it may take longer to diagnose it. The possibility of recovering men from breast cancer usually depends on the extent to which cancer has spread to the body before being diagnosed. Breast cancer that has been diagnosed at an early stage can usually be cured successfully, but effective treatment will be difficult if the cancer cells have spread beyond the breast tissue.
Unfortunately, many cases of patients are diagnosed after the cancer has spread.
Reducing your risk
The most effective way to reduce the risk of contracting breast cancer and other health conditions is as follows.
- Reduce alcohol consumption. Men are advised not to drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day. One unit is counted as half shot or 25 ml.
- Maintain a healthy weight through a combination of healthy foods and regular exercise.
