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Diagnosing Cancer of the Breast for Men
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.
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