Male Breast Cancer

Most people believe that breast cancer only affects women; this is because most men are not aware that they are also at risk of getting the disease. Given this, men need to be aware of the symptoms and the ways they can handle the disease. Below is a discussion of some important information that men should know about breast cancer in men.

Symptoms

Some of the most obvious symptoms of breast cancer among men are breast lumps, swelling, dimpling around the breast area, nipple retraction, redness, scaling and nipple discharge. Given that men have less breast tissue than women do, these symptoms are more obvious in men and are more dangerous because the cancer can easily invade nearby tissues. However, most men ignore these symptoms.

Risk Factors

One of the identified risk factors of developing the disease is advanced age. Men in their 60s are the most susceptible to the disease. Family history is also one risk factor that has been identified. Other risk factors include radiation exposure and a history of liver disease because liver diseases reduce androgen levels and raises estrogen levels in men, which make them susceptible to the disease. In this regard, men who have received estrogen treatments are also highly susceptible to the disease. Other factors include genetic mutations such as having Kleinfelter?s syndrome.

Treatment and Survival Rates

Breast cancer in men is diagnosed in the same way as women are diagnosed. With regard to treatment, there are a number of treatments available to men who have the disease. These include surgery (modified mastectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. Studies have also shown that the survival rates of men with breast cancer are similar to the survival rates among women.

Breast cancer also affects men and it is important that men be equipped with the right information about this disease. Having access to information can help men prevent, detect and seek treatment for male breast cancer, which is as deadly as breast cancer in women.