How breast cancer in men is a rare but real concern

Breast cancer is commonly associated with women but its essential to acknowledge that this disease can also affect men Male breast cancer though relatively rare is a pressing issue Accounting for only about 1 percent of all breast cancer cases it is often overlooked In this article we will shed light on the prevalence risk factors signs and the crucial importance of early detection for male breast cancerData from the National Cancer Institutes Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results SEER program in the USA reveals that between 2005 and 2010 out of 289673 cases of breast cancer only 2054 were diagnosed in men constituting just 07 percent of all breast cancer cases Internationally a metaanalysis study reported varying incidences of male breast cancer with the highest rates found in Brazil 34 cases per 100000 manyears and the lowest in Japan and Singapore 01 per 100000 manyearsIn India institutionbased studies indicate that male breast cancer comprises less than 1 percent of all breast cancer cases and it primarily affects elderly men typically in their 6th or 7th decade of life The risk of male breast cancer rises with age Its important to understand the risk factors for male breast cancer mdash particularly because men are not routinely screened for the disease and dont think about the possibility that theyll get it As a result breast cancer tends to be more advanced in men than in women when it is first detectedRisk factorsGrowing older This is the biggest factor Just as is the case for women the risk increases as age increases The average age of men diagnosed with breast cancer is about 68 In India this age is younger as compared to the WestHigh estrogen levels Breast cell growth mdash both normal and abnormal mdash is stimulated by the presence of estrogen Men can have high estrogen levels as a result ofTaking hormonal medicines Being overweight increases the production of estrogen Having been exposed to estrogens in the environment such as estrogen and other hormones in meat or the breakdown products of the pesticide DDT which can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body Being heavy users of alcohol can limit the livers ability to regulate blood estrogen levels Having liver disease usually leads to lower levels of androgens male hormones and higher levels of estrogen female hormones This increases the risk of developing gynecomastia breast tissue growth that is noncancerous as well as breast cancer Certain conditions like Klinefelter syndrome Men with Klinefelter syndrome have lower levels of androgens male hormones and higher levels of estrogen female hormones Therefore they have a higher risk of developing gynecomastia breast tissue growth that is noncancerous and breast cancerMen with Klinefelter syndrome have more than one X chromosome and one female chromosome sometimes as many as four Symptoms of Klinefelter syndrome include having longer legs a higher voice and a thinner beard than average men having smaller than normal testicles and being infertile unable to produce spermA strong family history of breast cancer or genetic mutations Family history can increase the risk of breast cancer in men mdash particularly if other men in the family have had breast cancer The risk is also higher if there is a proven breast cancer gene abnormality in the family Men who inherit abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes BR stands for BReast and CA stands for Cancer have an increased risk of male breast cancer There is a strong association between male breast cancer and an abnormal BRCA2 gene the history demonstrates a strong presence of male breast cancer and prostate cancer in the males of the familyRadiation exposure If a man has been treated with radiation to the chest for any condition such as lymphoma bone tumor or even hypertrophic scar or keloid has an increased risk of developing breast cancerFollowing are the signs which if present help should be immediately sortedA lump felt in the breastNipple pain An inverted nippleNipple discharge clear or bloodyEnlarged lymph nodes under the armIts important to note that enlargement of both breasts not just on one side is usually NOT cancer The medical term for this is gynecomastia Breast enlargement can be idiopathic or due to certain medications heavy alcohol use or weight gain Gynecomastia itself does not cause cancer the high estrogen state which causes cancer also causes gynecomastiaA small study about male breast cancer found that the average time between first symptom and diagnosis is over a year and a half This long time between the symptom and diagnosis is probably because people dont expect breast cancer to happen to men so there is little to no early detectionEarlier diagnosis could make a lifesaving difference if more public awareness is created men will learn that just like women they need to go to their doctor right away if they detect any persistent changes to their breastsDiagnosis is made by evaluation of the signs and symptoms byMammogramUltrasound of BreastCytology of Nipple discharge if presentBiopsycore needle of the Breast LumpImaging by PET CT MRI CT scan Bone scan etc for evaluating distant spreadTreatmentMale Breast cancer is generally a hormonepositive disease If detected early it can be treated by surgery followed by hormonal therapy Chemotherapy and radiation are needed if the disease presents in an advanced stageIn Males the loss of breast and body disfigurement is not as impactful as in a female Although the loss of a nipple does have a psychological impact on males Therefore the need for early detection is as important in male breast cancerTo improve survivalDeescalation of treatmentMinimising body disfigurementMale breast cancer is a rare but significant health concern that should not be ignored Awareness of risk factors and the importance of early detection can save lives and improve the outcomes for men facing this disease Its essential to empower men to be proactive about their breast health and seek medical attention if they notice any warning signsDr Mandeep Singh Malhotra is a Director of Surgical Oncology at CK Birla Hospital DelhiThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever