Breast cancer can develop in both women and, less commonly, in men. It is most prevalent in older men but can arise at any age. Early diagnosis of male breast cancer significantly increases the likelihood of a successful treatment. The standard treatment involves surgical removal of the breast tissue. Depending on the individual case, additional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be advised.
Breast cancer Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of male breast cancer can include:- A painless lump or an area of thickening in breast tissue.
- Changes to the skin over your breast, like dimpling, puckering, redness, or scaling, can be significant.
- Changes in the nipple, including redness, scaling, or an inward turn, can be significant.
- Discharge from your nipples.
- Should you have a significant family history of cancer, it is advisable to consult with your physician.
Risk factors of Breast Cancer
Factors that increase the risk of male breast cancer include:- Family history of breast cancer: Having a close relative with breast cancer can increase your likelihood of developing the condition.
- Liver disease: Certain medical conditions, like cirrhosis of the liver, may lead to a decrease in male hormones and an increase in female hormones, which could elevate the risk of developing breast cancer.
- Older age: The likelihood of developing breast cancer escalates with age. Male breast cancer is typically diagnosed in men during their 60s.
- Obesity: Obesity is linked to elevated estrogen levels in the body, which can raise the risk of breast cancer in men.
- Exposure to estrogen: Taking estrogen-related drugs, like those prescribed for hormone therapy in prostate cancer, may increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
- Testicle disease or surgery: Inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) or undergoing testicle removal surgery (orchiectomy) may elevate the risk of developing male breast cancer.
Treatment For Breast Cancer in Men
Men diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer have a high likelihood of a cure. Treatment usually includes surgery to remove the breast tissue. Depending on the specific case, additional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be advised. The treatment and survival rates for men with breast cancer are comparable to those for women when diagnosed at the same stage. Early detection significantly increases the chances of successful recovery.- Surgery: The typical treatment for male breast cancer involves the removal of the entire breast. Surgery is often the initial step in treating early-stage breast cancer.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation can eliminate any cancer cells that surgery may have missed. When the cancer is inoperable, radiation often becomes the primary treatment.
- Chemotherapy: This treatment involves administering drugs designed to target cancer cells, which can be taken orally or injected. Chemotherapy may be administered after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. For men, this advanced primary treatment is crucial to prevent the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body.
- Hormone Therapy: Certain types of breast cancer require specific hormones to proliferate. Hormone therapy inhibits the action of these hormones, thereby halting cancer growth. It tends to be more effective in men than in women, as approximately 90% of men have hormone receptor-positive cancer. Tamoxifen is the conventional hormone therapy for male breast cancer. In some cases, orchiectomy, the removal of the testes, can decrease the levels of certain male hormones. It is crucial for men with breast cancer to avoid testosterone, as it can stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells.
- Targeted Therapy: In some men, an overabundance of a protein known as HER2 can accelerate the spread of cancer. Trastuzumab, also known as Herceptin, is an approved medication for treating breast cancer that has metastasized. It inhibits the action of this protein, thereby preventing the growth of cancer cells. Additionally, it may enhance the immune system, providing it with greater power to combat the cancer.

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