Men's breast cancer is rare, but it happens to approximately 2000 men every year with thousands more reporting benign lumps or non-cancerous tissue growth. Men account for approximately one percent of all breast cancer patients. To learn more about male breast cancer, keep reading.

Male Breast Cancer Symptoms

Typically, any changes in tissue growth or bumps in men are usually benign (non-cancerous). However, that doesn't mean men should feel comfortable in ignoring it.

The most common symptoms of breast cancer in men are actually quite similar to the symptoms for women. These include nipple inversion, detecting a lump, unexplained tissue growth, change in breast size, skin puckering or dimpling, nipple discharge, itchiness or redness.

Men generally have less breast tissue than women, making it much easier to detect lumps. However, this also means the cancer can spread to other parts of the body more quickly than in women. This is why early detection is so critical for men.

Risk Factors for Men's Breast Cancer

Advancing Age

Men between the ages of 60 and 70 are the most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Genealogy

About one-fifth of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer have at least one immediate female relative who has or had breast cancer.

Prior Radiation Exposure

Radiation exposure to the chest (for example, past treatment for lung cancer) can be a risk factor for the development of male breast cancer.

History of Liver Diseases

Because the liver helps to regulate hormone levels, many men who have endured a liver disease have hormonal problems such as lower levels of androgens. This puts them at an increased risk for developing breast cancer or gynecomastia (benign tissue growth).

Estrogen Treatments

Often men who are being treated for prostate cancer are put on estrogen treatments to help control the disease. These men may be at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. That said, the American Cancer Society says those risks are small and worth the benefits of improved health for prostate cancer patients.

Klinefelter's Syndrome

Typically, men are born with one Y chromosome and one X chromosome. Klinefelter's Syndrome is when a man is born with two or more X chromosomes (female chromosomes). Approximately 1 in 850 men were born with Klinefelter's.

Men with Klinefelter's usually have higher estrogen levels and lower androgen levels. This typically translates to a more significant risk rate for breast cancer.

Treating Breast Cancer in Men

Men's breast cancer is typically treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy - or a combination of the four treatment courses.

Survival rates, particularly for those cases detected early, are good - 96% for stage I diagnosis, 84% for stage II diagnosis, 52% for stage III diagnosis and 24% for stage IV diagnosis.



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What happens after all the treatment is done? Most women ask how they will know if their cancer comes back and how they will be monitored during the years ahead. To begin with, many possible tests can be performed. While some are important, such as mammography, others, such as CAT scans and bone scans, do not contribute to longer survival rates and may lead to unnecessary anxiety, additional tests, and biopsies. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has published guidelines, "A Patient's Guide to Follow-Up Care for Breast Cancer." You can view this document on their website. (See asco.org, the "People Living with Cancer" section.)

It is important to see your cancer specialist for regular checkups. Medical oncologists and surgeons often do these checkups, while radiation oncologists may see the patients only for the first one to two years. Sometimes the checkups can be rotated among your team of cancer specialists. Although your family doctor should continue to see you for routine physical exams, it is still important to see a cancer specialist, who will be particularly aware of issues important to breast cancer survivors.

During the first three years after finishing treatment, you should have a checkup no less than every three to six months. During these visits it is important for you to share with your doctor any new symptoms you may be experiencing. For example, do you have any breast lumps or changes in your breast or chest region? Are you experiencing any persistent bone pain? Any problems breathing? Any abdominal pain or bloating that does not go away? Unexplained weight loss? In addition to carefully examining the breasts, your doctor will do a full physical exam.

After the first three years, these visits can be less frequent, perhaps every six to twelve months for the next two years. After five years, an annual checkup is sufficient for a routine exam. However, if you are experiencing any new symptoms, you should let your doctor know and arrange to be seen for evaluation. Although most recurrences happen in the first two to three years, they can happen much later on, even up to ten or more years after initial diagnosis and treatment.

Mammography is an important part of your follow-up. If you are treated with breast-conserving therapy, then you will have a mammogram of the treated breast six months after completing radiation. After that, mammograms are generally done yearly, although your doctor may recommend them at additional times if any questions arise during your clinical breast examination. If you have had a mastectomy, then every year you will need a mammogram of the opposite breast.

Routine gynecological examinations are also important, and women taking tamoxifen need to be especially careful about telling their doctors about any abnormal bleeding.

If you have any symptoms, or if your doctor finds any abnormalities on your physical exam, then appropriate tests will be ordered. These may include blood tests, x-rays, bone scans, MRIs, or CT scans. However, if you are feeling fine and your exam is normal then these tests are not recommended.

The work of identifying a blood test that is sensitive and specific enough to be helpful in follow-up is an active area of current research but, unfortunately, at this time no such test exists. Blood tests called tumor markers CA 27-29, CA 15-3, and CEA are not recommended for routine follow-up because they are often normal when cancer has already spread, and they may be abnormal when there are no clinical signs of cancer. In other words, frequent false positive and false negative results make them unreliable.


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A diagnoses of any type of cancer is a serious and frightening event. Once you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, it's a good idea to take a deep breath, and consider your options. It is very common to want to rush into treatment, it is a good idea to consider the various types of medical treatments available for your breast cancer care.

It is natural to fear waiting. Yet, many breast cancer survivors recommend against moving to fast into any one treatment. It is more advisable to take the time to learn more about your treatment choices. This will help you be sure that it is the correct treatment option for you.

There are several different kinds of breast cancer and the treatment options will differ depending on the type of cancer you are diagnosed with.

It is also important to understand it is ok to get a second opinion. Often we can feel that we are being disloyal if we even consider going to a different doctor for a second opinion. Don't allow yourself to feel bad about wanting to check with another doctor to make sure the diagnosis is correct.

Most insurance companies will allow for a second opinion. However, if you find that yours will not, then it would be wise to consider paying for it yourself.

You may know someone personally who has had some sort of breast cancer treatment. Yet, this does not mean it's the right treatment option for you. While one sort of treatment may work successfully for one person, it may not work well for you personally.

I have two friends who have had breast cancer. One of them chose alternative treatments and she is a cancer survivor. However, she first had the tumor removed, then proceeded with the natural alternatives to keep the cancer from returning or spreading.

My other friend chose the conventional means of treating her cancer and she too is a survivor. Each chose a different path, and each of these women became breast cancer survivors.

Choosing the right type of breast cancer care is a very personal decision, and it should not be influenced by anything but your own research. There are many studies that can help you become more informed. The Best breast cancer care will focus on proof to support the treatment option. This means that the medical research has shown that the care could help you. Each year there are new studies and even new treatment options. Ask your doctor for help in acquiring the latest medical data.



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