Male Breast Cancer - Signs, Causes, Risk factors
A rare form of breast cancer, male breast cancer, occurs in the breast tissue. Breast cancer is often thought to be a condition that affects women.
Although breast cancer is more common in men over 50, it can also occur at any age.
There is a good chance that a man with early-stage male breast cancer will be cured. The most common treatment involves the removal of breast tissue. Based on your specific situation, other treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be recommended.
Male Cancer Signs
The following are signs and symptoms of male breast carcinoma.
- Painless lumps or thickening of your breast tissue
- Modifications in the skin around your breasts, such as dimpling or puckering, redness, scaling, or redness
- Redness, scaling or a nipple turning inwardly.
- Your nipple should be released
Also Read: Breast Cancer Treatment Options
Male Cancer Causes
It is not known what causes breast cancer in men.
Doctors believe that male breast cancer is caused by breast cells that divide faster than normal cells. The tumor may spread to surrounding tissue, lymph nodes and other areas of the body (metastasize).
Men are where breast cancer starts
Every woman is born with some breast tissue. Breast tissue is made up of milk-producing glands (lobules), fat-carrying ducts, and ducts.
Women develop more breast tissue during puberty than men. Breast cancer can occur in men because they are born with very little breast tissue.
There are several types of breast cancer that can be diagnosed in men:
- Ductal carcinoma is a form of cancer that develops in the milk ducts. Ductal carcinoma is the most common form of breast cancer in men.
- Lobular carcinoma is a form of cancer that develops in the milk-producing cells. This type of cancer is uncommon in men, as they have few lobules within their breast tissue.
- There are other types of cancer. Paget’s disease, which is a rare form of breast cancer, can also occur in men.
- Breast cancer risk is increased by genes passed on from the parents
- Certain men inherit abnormal genes (mutated genes) from their parents which can increase the risk for breast cancer. You are at higher risk of developing prostate and breast cancer if you have a mutation in one of many genes, particularly BRCA2.
- Talk to your doctor if you have a history of cancer in the family. A genetic counselor may recommend you meet with your doctor to discuss genetic testing to determine if you have genes that increase your chance of developing cancer.
Also Read: Breast Cancer Symptoms & Causes
Risk factors
The following factors increase the chance of developing breast cancer in men:
- As you get older, your risk of developing breast cancer rises. Men in their 60s are most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Exposure to estrogen. Your risk of developing breast cancer increases if you are exposed to estrogen-related drugs such as hormone therapy for prostate carcinoma.
- Breast cancer in the family. A person with breast cancer in their family has a higher chance of getting it.
- Klinefelter’s syndrome. This genetic syndrome is when boys have more than one copy the Xchromosome. Klinefelter syndrome results in abnormal testicular development. This syndrome causes men to produce lower levels (androgens) of certain hormones and higher levels (estrogens).
- Liver disease. Cirrhosis can increase your risk of developing breast cancer by increasing the amount of male hormones in your liver.
- Obesity. Higher estrogen levels in the body are associated with obesity, which can increase the risk of developing breast cancer in men.
- Surgery or testicle disease. Male breast cancer can be increased by having inflamed testicles or having surgery to remove them (orchiectomy).
About Docor
Dr. Azhar Alam
MBBS (Honours), MRCS A (UK),
DNB General Surgery
FIAGES (Gastro Intestinal Surgery)
FMAS (Minimal Access Surgery),
MNAMS (New Delhi)
Consultant Gastrointestinal, Advanced Laparoscopic and Laser Surgeon
Assistant Professor of Surgery, KPC Medical College and Hospital
