Male Breast Cancer

Special events and the color pink draw our attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Overwhelmingly breast cancer occurs in women. However, 1% of all breast cancer patients are men, and it usually strikes them in later life.

One per cent may not sound like a lot, but consider that 1 in 9 women are expected to develop breast cancer in their lifetimes; therefore, the figure for men is 1 in 900.

The most common symptoms of male breast cancer are a small painless lump and/or a small discharge from the nipple.  Most men don't immediately associate a lump in the breast with cancer and therefore may delay or forget to have a doctor check it out. 

However, breast health, whether for women or for men, is all about noticing changes.  Any changes you notice should be reported to your doctor.

Knowing the following risk factors for male breast cancer may help more men get diagnosed and treated:

Age: Men who develop breast cancer are generally 60 to 70 years old.

Family history of breast cancer: Five to ten per-cent of breast cancers in men are inherited through gene mutation.

Radiation: Receiving chest radiation therapy as a child can increase the risk of acquired mutations that lead to cancer growth.

Liver disease: Liver disease will reduce androgen activity and increase estrogen activity.

Excessive alcohol: According to the Mayo Clinic website, excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing breast cancer.

Some of these factors are beyond an individual's control. However, losing excess weight, limiting alcohol intake, and smoking cessation can help minimize the risk.

A past ElderWise Info, Aging and Men's Health (Vol. 2, No. 22), outlined some of the risks that older men take with their health.  More so than women, they may delay seeking medical attention, keep health concerns to themselves, or be unaware of what is normal and what needs to be checked out by their doctor. 

As with many other cancers, early detection and treatment is key. For more information check out:

"Male breast cancer"
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-breast-cancer/DS00661

"Breast Cancer in Men"
http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,
3182,3225_10175_429690081_langId-en,00.html

"Breast Cancer: Men get it too"
www.mtsinai.on.ca/MKBC/mkbcresources/malebc.htm

Contributed by Lara Colleen Osis

Vol.3, No. 20
© ElderWise Inc. 2007.
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