You Didn’t Think Men Could Get Breast Cancer, Did You?

Who would think that breast cancer in men would be an infinite possibility? And if you’re a man reading this right now, do you think it is possible?

It’s 6 in the morning, and Omar is walking into the shower before heading to work.

“What are these lumps?” whispers Omar to himself, while he rubs his breast.

“Well, good thing it doesn’t hurt. It’ll probably go away eventually…” he whispers again, reassuring himself.

Frequency of men’s breast cancer

Yes, men are also at risk of breast cancer, but the chances are extremely low. Statistically, an estimated lower than 1% of all breast cancer cases occur in men, and only 1 out of a 1,000 men is diagnosed with breast cancer. However, the mortality rate of breast cancer in men is higher due to lack of awareness. They often disregard lumps around their breast area, resulting in late diagnosis and treatment.

Men’s breast cancer

Both men and women are born with breast tissues and cells. And though a man is not capable of producing body milk, his breast cells and tissues could still potentially develop cancer.

It is usually detected through the identification of hard lumps under the nipples and areola. Most cases of breast cancer in men are what is called Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), referring to the process of cells surrounding the ducts, attacking other tissues around it. It is uncommon for men to be diagnosed with breast cancer through inflammation.

Risk factors of breast cancer in men

There are a few factors that can contribute towards the risks of breast cancer in men, which include:

•         Age
•         Exposure towards radiation
•         High levels of estrogen hormones
•         Family history of breast cancer, especially breast cancer relating to the BRCA2 gene
•         Klinefelter Syndrome
•         Heart disease
•         Obesity
•         Testicular diseases
•         Past medical procedures performed on the testicles

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men

Symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to those in women, which include:

•         Appearance of painless lumps
•         Thickening of the breast tissue area
•         Change of appearance on skin surrounding the breast, such as redness and wrinkles
•         Change of nipple appearance

Therefore, you should immediately consult with a doctor should you notice any changes or anything unusual with your breasts. Early detection could significantly reduce the risk of death from this cancer, besides providing a variety of treatment options. Do not make the mistake of thinking that as a man, you have zero risk of being affected by breast cancer. Be you a man or woman, the risk of breast cancer will always be there for as long as you have breasts.

 Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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