Although men don't have breasts like women’s, but they own some breast tissue. The male breast is similar to the girl's breast before puberty. The only difference is that girl breast tissue develops and grows with puberty while male breast size remains the same. So, the answer to the question, can men get breast cancer? is yes, as they have breasts like females do. But the risk of having breast cancer in males is 1 in 1000.
Breast cancer develops in men in an area behind the nipples. Usually, Breast cancer in men can occur at the age of over 60 but rarely it can also develop in young men.
Breast cancer symptoms in men
Breast cancer most frequently develops in one male breast. But sometimes it can be bilateral (involves both breasts).
The most common symptoms of breast cancer are:
- Breast tissue thickening
- Nipple discharge
- Nipple retraction (nipple turning inward)
- Pain in breast tissue
- The appearance of rash or sore around the nipple.
- Lump formation behind the nipple: Red, painless and immobile.
- Skin dimpling around the lump
- Swelling or soreness in the armpit, in case of breast cancer spread.
What puts you at more risk of getting breast cancer?
Risk factors for male breast cancer include;
- Age of 60 years.
- Family history of breast cancer in closed family members.
- Estrogen-related hormone therapy. This hormonal therapy is most frequently done for prostate cancer. This therapy can increase the risk of having breast cancer.
- Klinefelter syndrome: The sufferers of Klinefelter syndrome possesses higher levels of estrogen hormone which is a potential threat for having breast cancer.
- Liver diseases
- Testicular problems like orchitis
- Obesity
- History of radiation exposure to the chest
- Already has enlarged breasts due to infections, drugs.
But still, the chances of developing breast cancer are very low. If a man shows these risk factors, it is still possible that he will not get breast cancer. But if some person is diagnosed with breast cancer, these risk factors will always be found.
Treatment approaches for breast cancer in men
Treatment options for breast cancer in males are similar to the female breast cancer treatment approaches.
Surgery
The first option is surgery. Breast cancer surgery named mastectomy is done for the removal of cancerous tissues. It will be the doctor's choice to surgically remove the entire breast or some breast tissue area.
Radiotherapy
In this treatment approach, radiations are passed through your breast area. These radiations kill your cancerous cells and to some extent normal cells. But this treatment option is recommended after surgery. However, if operation is not suitable for the patients then radiotherapy is the first choice.
Chemotherapy
In this treatment option, drugs are given via mouth or by insertion of a tube into your vein. Chemotherapeutic drugs also kill cancerous cells and normal cells. In both chemotherapy and radiotherapy normal cells are damaged too but your body can repair them later. It is also recommended after surgery.
But in case of tumor spread, chemotherapy is the first option than surgery.
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