Breast Cancer in Men?
Although the frequency is less than women, men do
get breast cancer and die from it. It is estimated that
approximately 400 men die every year in the US as a result of breast
cancer.
Breast cancer can arise in different ways. The most
common begins in duct linings and is called ductal carcinoma. As
with other cancers, breast cancer arises from cells that begin
dividing out of control. The dividing gives rise to mass of tissues
called tumors. Some of these tumors are not cancerous (referred to
as benign) however, in some cases the tumor is cancerous (and is
referred to as malignant).
Diagnosis
Although it is not a routine test for men the best
way to diagnosis breast cancer is with the aid of a mammogram.
This low radiation dose x-ray, allows the physician to view growth
that would otherwise be difficult to view. Current advances in
mammography allow for computer enhancement of tissues thought to be
cancerous (this makes diagnosing easier). This is referred to as
Computer Aided Diagnosis (or CAD).
Though routine self-exams is a good thing it should
not take the place of seeing your physician and having a routine
breast exam. In fact the early stages of the cancer do not show any
symptoms. As the cancer grows changes can be felt in the size and
shape of the breast, feeling of a lump or thickening around the
breast or underarm area, nipple tenderness or unusual discharge
(there is also an instance where the nipple is pulled back –
referred to as a nipple inversion), there can also be a pitting (or
ridges) on the breast – like the skin or an orange.
Treatment
As
with other cancers treatment usually consists with either
chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation or surgery – or a
combination thereof.
