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Breast Cancer: Not just a Female Disease
Written by Michael Asu   
Breast cancer is not a disease that is exclusive to women.  Although the number of cases is minute compared to diagnosis of breast cancer in women, men too can receive the devastating news.  Unfortunately, because male breast cancer is so rare, it is often not found until it has reached an advanced stage.

Symptoms

Like women, men can develop lumps in their breasts.  In one way, it is unfortunate that these growths usually do not hurt.  If the lump caused pain, maybe men with breast cancer would be diagnosed much sooner.  However, there are still some symptoms that should be cause for concern, and hopefully get a guy to seek medical advice.  Other than a lump, male breast cancer may manifest with:
  • Skin that dimples or puckers irregularly
  • Discharge from the nipple
  • Indented or misshapen nipple
  • Scaling or redness of the nipple or breast area
If a man exhibits any of these symptoms of male breast cancer, it is important to make an appointment with the doctor.  It may be nothing; but, if it is something, the sooner it is discovered and diagnosed, the greater the odds of recovery.

Why Me

With the incidents of male breast cancer so rare, the first question after a diagnosis is probably: why me?  Of course, most of us understand the concept of any cancer.  For whatever reason, the cells in the body start to mutate and multiply rapidly.  Left unchecked, these cells can turn cancerous.  In truth, cancer is a term use to describe a wide variety of disease that is caused when cells anywhere in the body basically start to go haywire.

But, when women have approximately a 100% probability of being diagnosed with breast cancer, the question begs to be answered.  Therefore, the Mayo Clinic has come up with a list of health issues that may contribute to male breast cancer.  The list includes:
  • Overweight:  Yet another reason to eat healthy and exercise regular.  Again, weight is attributed to increased disease, including male breast cancer.
  • Age:  For some reason, men between the ages of 60-70 seem more likely to receive a breast cancer diagnosis.
  • X, Y, X:  In the majority of men, only 2 chromosomes exist: X and Y.  In men diagnosed with Klinefelter’s syndrome, there is an extra X chromosome.  It is a genetic condition.  Men with this birth abnormality are also likely to produce more female hormones.
  • Estrogen Exposure:  Even if a man’s body does not naturally produce too much estrogen, exposure to the female hormone seems to also increase the odds of the onset of male breast cancer.
  • Genetics:  Like many of the disease that tends to afflict mankind, genetics often play a part.  Men that have been diagnosed may also possess the genetic markers that signal a higher probability of breast cancer.
  • The Family Tree:  Like women, men are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, if they have a close family member that has also suffered from the disease.  The odds increase if it is a mother or a sister, which would also support the genetic theory.
  • Radiation:  If you have ever had an x-ray, then you already know about the apron the techs will place over the parts of the body that do not need radiated.  For decades, doctors have known that radiation can be deadly and cause a myriad of health problems.  So, it is also expected that it might contribute to breast cancer in males.
  • Liver Disease: Although it does not seem like it should be related, if you have liver disease, like caused by alcoholism, the liver may cause the increased production of estrogen, which also increase the odds of breast cancer in both men and women.
  • Alcohol: Again, men that are prone to overindulge in alcoholic beverages are more likely to be diagnosed with male breast cancer.  Liver disease does not necessarily have to be present first.

The list of risk factors for male breast cancer is amazingly long.  Most people think of this type of cancer as gender specific; but, it is not.  Unfortunately, it seems like men are less likely to exam their breasts or seek medical advice, if they think there might be a health issue on the horizon.  

For some reason, most men wait until they are really sick, before going to the doctor.  Unfortunately, it also means that a man with breast cancer is less likely to receive a diagnosis before the cancer starts to move on, and invades other parts of the body. In the future, men should be made aware breast cancer and what to look for, so they do not wait too long for a diagnosis.

So, if you have any of the symptoms of male breast cancer, or any of the risk factors for the disease, make an appointment with the family physician and get a checkup today.
 
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