View PDF | Print View | Html Version
by: RoselynCapen
Total views: 7
Word Count: 556

Male breast cancer is a very uncommon occurrence, and only one percent of breast cancer cases are those of male breast cancer, men should be aware of the risks to prevent such a happening.

Growth of malignant cells in the breast tissues of men is known as male breast cancer. Male breast cancer can occur in men of any age, although most of the cases diagnosed are in men aged between 60 and 70 years. The risk factors for male breast cancer include exposure to radiations beyond the safety limit, heredity, that is to say, a family history of breast cancer, and high levels of estrogen, which diseases like cirrhosis, a liver disease, brings. Klinefelter's syndrome - the abnormal presence of two X chromosomes with one Y chromosome - is a big risk factor, too. Mutation of genes also increases the risk of developing male breast cancer. Obesity and alcoholism are other common causes.

Mutation of genes is also a risk factor. Mutation in genes like BRCA1 or BRCA2 increases the chance of you developing breast cancer, and such mutations generally occur during your life and have not been passed on through heredity. Otherwise, men have a significantly higher chance of developing breast cancer due to heredity; about thirty out of hundred men do get it in this manner, compared to just 5% to 10% female breast cancer victims.

Men show similar symptoms as women when it comes to breast cancer, like a lump in the breast, the peau d'orange syndrome, where the skin of the breast appears indented, like that of an orange, fluid discharge from nipples, thickness of breasts, change in breast size and skin around the nipples, and the breast skin appearing red.

You should instantly get an enlarged breast or other abnormalities examined. For diagnosis, clinical breast examination, biopsies, mammograms, breast ultrasounds, even nipple discharge examination can be adopted. Mammograms are said to work better in men than in women because females have a dense breast tissue which makes the process difficult. If the biopsy reveals cancer cell presence, getting the breast tissue tested for presence of estrogen and progesterone is a good idea, since these female hormones can stimulate cancer growth, as is the case with 80% to 90% male breast cancer cases, and can be stopped at source.

In situ or non-invasive breast cancer means your cancer is confined to the breasts and has not spread out. A mastectomy in this case almost cures you. You can also have invasive breast cancer, where the cancer cells have spread outside the original site. There are stages of invasive breast cancer, where Stage I is very treatable, and means that your tissues still somewhat have their natural structure and perform natural functions, where as Stage IV means the cancer has metastasized to other organs. Treatment heavily depends on the stage of advancement of your cancer, then.

For men with Stage IV of invasive breast cancer, chemotherapy, hormonal treatment and radiation therapy become imperative, since metastasis makes cure so hard. Likewise, treating male breast cancer is not very different from treating females with the disease, for any stage of breast cancer

Abstain from alcohol intake and lead a healthy life; this is all that is required for better survival chances. Get the help you need from family and friends, and you can get back to leading a normal life, again.

About the Author

All you need to know about male breast cancer symptoms. As a man you should inform yourself about breast cancer treatments

Add Comment