Cancer Information Tips :: Men's Breast Cancer
Men's Breast Cancer: Understanding Men's Cancer (Breast)
Though far less common than in women, men's breast cancer is possible. According to the American Cancer Society, over 2000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, meaning men account for approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases diagnosed nationally.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Men
Most lumps or changes in the breast for men are benign (not cancerous) abnormalities, men should still report any major changes, irritations or problems to their doctors as soon as possible.
The major symptoms of male breast cancer include finding a lump in the breast, puckering of the skin, swelling, dimpling of the skin, nipple inversion, nipple discharge redness, irritation or constant itchiness.
Because men typically have less breast tissue than most women, it is generally easier to find and detect a breast lump on a man's chest than on a woman's. However, since breast cancer is so rare in men, many men ignore these symptoms, allowing the disease to go untreated.
Risk Factors for Men's Breast Cancer
Old Age
Most men diagnosed with male breast cancer are between the ages of 60 and 70.
Family History
About one-fifth of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer have at least one immediate female relative who has or had breast cancer.
Exposure to Radiation
Prior radiation exposure (such as treatment for another cancer) can be a contributing factor to male breast cancer.
Liver Disease
Because the liver helps to regulate hormone levels, many men who have endured liver diseases have hormonal problems like lower levels of androgens. This puts them at an increased risk for developing breast cancer or gynecomastia (benign tissue growth).
Estrogen Treatments
Men who have been treated with a course of estrogen for other diseases and afflictions (such as prostate cancer) could be at a higher risk for developing male breast cancer. However, the American Cancer Society reports that this risk is relatively small and the benefits of treating and controlling prostate cancer with estrogen outweigh the potential risk.
Klinefelter's Syndrome
Typically, men are born with one Y chromosome and one X chromosome. Klinefelter's Syndrome is when a man is born with two or more X chromosomes (female chromosomes).
Approximately 1 in 850 men were born with Klinefelter's. Men with this syndrome generally have lower levels of androgens and higher levels of estrogen and are therefore at a higher risk for developing male breast cancer.
Treating Breast Cancer in Men
Men's breast cancer is typically treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy or a combination of the four treatment courses. Survival rates, particularly for those cases detected early, are good (96% for stage I diagnosis, 84% for stage II diagnosis, 52% for stage III diagnosis and 24% for stage IV diagnosis).
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CancerInfoTips.com :: Men's Breast Cancer