2. What is Breast Cancer in men?
3. Where does Breast Cancer start?
4. How does Breast Cancer spread?
5. What are the symptoms of Breast Cancer in men?
6. What causes Breast Cancer in men?
8. How is Breast Cancer diagnosed in men?
9. What are the stages of Breast Cancer in men?
10. What are the treatments for Breast Cancer in men?
Breast Cancer is often considered a disease that affects only women. Although rare, men can also develop Breast Cancer. The incidence rate of Breast Cancer in men is 0.5%-1% of all Breast Cancer cases. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the lifetime risk of developing Breast Cancer in men is approximately 1 in 833. Breast Cancer may occur at any age in men, but it is more common in older men above 60 years of age. Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in men at an early stage has good chances for a cure.
Let’s have an in-depth understanding of the risk factors, causes, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Breast Cancer in men.
Breast Cancer in men is a type of cancer that occurs in the non-functional milk ducts, glands, and breast tissues. Men’s breasts have fatty tissues, breast cells, and ducts. Breast tissues in men are similar to that of a pre-puberty girl. These tissues in men do not grow much because they have low levels of female hormones. Cancer develops when healthy cells grow out of control, forming a mass of cells called a tumor.
A tumor can be malignant or benign. The tumor is malignant if it grows and spreads to other parts of the body. On the other hand, a benign tumor can grow but doesn’t spread to other body parts. When Breast Cancer spreads to the other body parts through the lymph or blood, it is called metastasis.
In men, Breast Cancer usually begins in the ducts that carry milk to the nipples or in the glands that make breast milk. These ducts and glands are present in men but are non-functional.
The cancers that grow into other breast tissues are sarcomas (cancer that develops into soft tissues such as fats, muscles, and deep skin tissues) and lymphomas (cancer that develops in the body’s immune system cells).
The most common kind of Breast Cancer in men and women are the same. These are:
Cancer cells can spread by getting into the lymph system or the blood that carries cells to other body parts. Our lymph system consists of a network of lymph vessels. These lymph vessels carry a fluid called lymph away from the breast, and lymph contains waste products and tissue fluid. Breast Cancer cells start growing in lymph nodes by entering the lymph vessels. These lymph vessels of the breast channel in:
The spread of cancer cells to your lymph nodes increases the chances of spreading cancer to other parts of the body. The presence of cancer cells in one or more lymph nodes affects the treatment plan, and surgery is required to remove such lymph nodes.
The hardening of the breast, swelling, or changes in breast skin texture are the early symptoms of Breast Cancer in men. The sign and symptoms of Breast Cancer in men include:
Breast Cancer can occur to anyone. The reasons for Breast Cancer include:
The factors that increase the risk of getting Breast Cancer include:
Based on your age, early signs of cancer, and type of cancer suspected, the doctor may use the following tests to diagnose Breast Cancer:
After diagnosing cancer, your doctor will determine the stage of your cancer based on the size, location, and spread of the tumor to nearby tissues or lymph nodes. The stages are:
Your doctor will decide the treatment option based on your medical history, size, location, and severity of the tumor. Treatment options include:
Get a free second opinion and Consult our Cancer experts now.
Breast Cancer in men can’t be prevented. However, one can reduce the risk of Breast Cancer by:
Does Breast Cancer occur in men?
Yes, although rare, Breast Cancer can occur in men. It can happen at any age, but usually, it happens in men above 60 years of age. Men also have fatty tissues, ducts, and lymph nodes like women. Abnormal growth of the cells forms a tumor in the breasts. Men with Breast Cancer can feel a lump in their breasts. There are other symptoms of Breast Cancer such as inward turning of nipples, clear or bloody discharge from nipples, redness or swelling in the breast tissues. Several tests are done to diagnose cancer and to decide treatment options.
How common is Breast Cancer in men?
Breast Cancer in men is rare. Men can experience less than 1% of all Breast Cancers. However, it can occur in older men that are over 60 years of age. As your age increases, your chances of getting cancer also increase. As per the American Cancer Society, the lifetime risk of getting cancer in men is 1 in 833. Due to unawareness regarding Breast Cancer in men, sometimes it is not diagnosed at an early stage. Early diagnosis of Breast Cancer can help in successful treatment. Consult our cancer experts to know about the risk factors and treatment options for Breast Cancer in men.
How to detect Breast Cancer in men?
Based on age, signs, and symptoms, your doctor will decide the tests to detect cancer. The tests are:
Is Breast Cancer possible in men?
Yes, Breast Cancer is possible in men as they also contain breast tissues. However, it is rare in men. Men’s breasts contain non-functional milk ducts and glands. Sometimes cells start growing abnormally due to mutation in genes or other reasons. These abnormal cells are called tumors. A tumor is malignant if it grows and spreads to other parts of the body, while a benign tumor can grow but doesn’t spread to other body parts. If you feel a lump or mass in your breast, consult your doctor. You may consult our cancer experts for a free second opinion.
What causes Breast Cancer in men?
Many factors such as age, hormonal levels, certain diseases, etc., can increase the risk of developing Breast Cancer in men. Older men are at high risk of getting Breast Cancer. Liver cirrhosis and obesity increase estrogen (female hormones) in men that may lead to Breast Cancer. Lifestyle choices such as unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity are also red flags for Breast Cancer in men. Moreover, men whose blood relatives had cancer are also at high risk. Further, you can consult our cancer experts to know the risk factors and ways to prevent cancer.
Is male Breast Cancer curable?
Male Breast Cancer has good chances of being cured if diagnosed at an early stage. Treatments involve surgery to remove the lump or mass from the breast. Other treatment options involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy based on the stage and severity of cancer. If you experience any signs of cancer such as a lump, pain in the breast tissue, discharge from the nipple, or change in the shape of the breast, immediately consult your doctor. You can also get a free second opinion from our cancer experts now.
Is male Breast Cancer aggressive?
Male Breast Cancer is rare but may be aggressive. If cancer spreads to lymph nodes, chances of second cancer also increase. Due to a lack of awareness about Breast Cancer in men, it is usually diagnosed at a later stage. By that time, it spreads to other body parts and becomes high-grade in nature. It then requires aggressive treatment. If you have a family history of Breast Cancer, consult your doctor. You may consult our cancer experts to know about the causes, stages, and treatment of cancer.
What is the survival rate of male Breast Cancer?
The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database maintained by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) suggests a 5-year relative survival rate based on the area in which cancer spread. It includes:
SEER stage | The 5-year relative survival rate |
Localized (cancer not spread outside breast) | 97% |
Regional (cancer spread to lymph nodes) | 83% |
Distant (cancer spread to the brain, lungs, etc.) | 22% |
All SEER stages combined | 84% |
These numbers depict data of men who were diagnosed and treated about five years earlier. So, men who are diagnosed now with Breast Cancer may have a better outlook as compared to these numbers.
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