Frequently asked questions about breast cancer in men - risk factors, symptoms, self-diagnosis and more

October is observed as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all around the world. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women and is also the most common type of cancer that affects women. However, we often associate breast cancer only with women. In fact, some people are not even aware that breast cancer can also affect men. The fact is that men do have a small amount of breast tissue in their body. 

It is important to know and be aware of breast cancer in men. A medical expert answers some frequently asked questions about breast cancer in men.

How is breast cancer in men different from that in women? What causes breast cancer in men? 

 

Breast cancer in men is a rare type of cancer that forms inside the breast tissue. While every individual is born with a small amount of breast tissue, women begin developing more breast tissue during puberty as compared to men. Therefore, the occurrence of breast cancer is higher in women. According to a study titled ‘Male Breast Cancer in India: Series from a Cancer Research Centre’ out of 1,752 cases of breast cancer in the country, between 2005 to 2014, only 18 cases were identified to be among men. 

Types of breast cancer in men include: 1) Ductal carcinoma: This cancer begins in the milk ducts. Majority of all male breast cancer is ductal carcinoma.  2) Lobular carcinoma: This type of cancer is rare because men have few lobules (a gland in the breast that makes milk) in their breast tissue.

Other rare types of breast cancer that can occur in men include Paget's disease (a type of cancer with skin changes involving the nipple of the breast) and inflammatory breast cancer (a rare and very aggressive disease in which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast)

What are the early warning signs of breast cancer in men that one should look out for? 
Breast cancer does not produce symptoms when the tumour is small and most treatable, making it difficult to detect.
The warning signs include a painless lump or thickening in the breast tissue, changes to the skin covering the breast such as dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling. It can also be identified through changes to the nipple such as redness, scaling, nipple discharge or a nipple that begins to turn inward.

How can you do a self-examination of breasts?

To perform a self-examination, stand in front of a mirror, placing your arms on your hips. Look closely at your chest area for noting any changes to your nipples such as swelling or inversion. Then, raise your arms above your head and inspect the areas around your chest and armpits. The next step is to feel your chest for any potential lumps, which can be done by moving your fingertips in a circular motion around the breast area. Additionally, the nipple area needs to be checked for any discharge.

Who is at risk of breast cancer?

The most common risk factor for male breast cancer is old age. It is most often diagnosed in men who are in their 60s. Other risk factors include:

• Family history: Some men inherit abnormal genes from their parents that increase the risk of breast cancer
• Liver disease: Certain conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver (late stage of scarring of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism), can reduce male hormones and increase female hormones which can lead to increased risk of breast cancer
• Exposure to estrogen: The risk tends to increase if one takes estrogen-related drugs such as those used for hormone replacement therapy for prostate cancer. High estrogen level can be a result of excess alcohol and tobacco consumption, inadequate physical activity and obesity.

How can breast cancer be diagnosed?

Apart from self-examination, mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy require identifying cancer cells in tissue specimens.
A mammogram is a process of using low-energy X-rays to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening. Ultrasound is most often done to confirm if a lump found by a mammogram or physical exam is a cyst filled with fluid or a solid tumour. A biopsy is a test in which tissue or fluid from the suspicious area is extracted and examined under a microscope and further tested to check for the presence of breast cancer. 

What are the treatment options available?
Treatment depends on the stage of cancer, overall health and individual treatment preferences. It can be a combination of surgery, radiation and medical therapy. 

The aim of the surgery is to remove the tumour and surrounding breast tissue. Common surgical procedures include:

Mastectomy: This involves the removal of entire breast tissue, including the nipple and areola.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy: This involves identification of the lymph nodes where the cancer cells are likely to start spreading from. If cancer is found, additional lymph nodes are removed for testing. If no cancer cells are found here, then there is a good chance that breast cancer hasn't spread beyond the breast tissue. 

Apart from the surgical procedure, one can opt for radiation or systemic therapy. Radiation therapy is used to destroy cancer cells remaining in the breast, chest wall, or underarm area after surgery, or to reduce the size of a tumour before surgery. In systemic therapy, anti-cancer drugs are injected into a vein or given by mouth. It includes biologic therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.

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8 unusual breast cancer symptoms

When you think about breast cancer, what do you think of? A young woman with nipple discharge? Probably not. And that's because we often associate a lump as a sign of breast cancer, as well as assuming it only affects older women.
But what about the other symptoms? There are plenty of indicators you might have breast cancer that you're not familiar with, so breast cancer charity CoppaFeel! is helping us all out by shining the light on the lesser known signs and symptoms...

1. Changes in skin texture (e.g puckering/dimpling)

This is why it is so important to feel AND look at your boobs. Dimpling and puckering of the skin can look similar to orange peel. 

2. Lumps and thickening

Some boobs are naturally lumpy and this can be perfectly normal. The key is to get to know how your boobs feel, so you would notice if any new lumps appear or if your boob starts to feel thicker in one area compared to the rest.

3. Swelling in your armpit or around collar bone

It is important to check not just your boob but your upper chest and armpit too, as these areas also contain breast tissue. 

4. Constant, unusual pain in your breast or armpit

Some breast pain can be perfectly normal, especially around your period. But keep an eye out for any unexplained pain in your breast or your armpit that’s there all or almost all of the time.
5. Nipple discharge
This is liquid that comes from the nipple without squeezing it.

6. A sudden change in size or shape

Most women may naturally have one boob bigger than the other or experience their boobs gradually changing as they get older. Many changes are perfectly normal, however if you notice a sudden, unusual change in size or shape then get it checked out.

7. Nipple inversion and changes in direction

All this means is your nipple has become pulled into the boob or looks different to usual. This could be a change in its position or shape. That’s why it's important to pay special attention to your nipple during your regular checks.

8. A rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding area

There are many reasons why your skin could become irritated, especially if you are breast feeding, but if you notice any redness or a rash on the skin and/or around the nipple or any crusting of the nipple, make sure you get it checked out by your doctor.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       
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15 Cancer Symptoms Women Are Likely to Ignore

Many cancer signs mimic symptoms of other diseases or conditions, so it’s easy to brush them aside. All the doctors we interviewed agreed: Know your body, and if you notice an unusual pain or other change that persists and gets worse, head to the doctor. 

Postmenopausal bleeding

It’s not uncommon for women to see some light spotting even after they’ve gone through menopause. But if you suddenly start period-like bleeding again, and it’s consistent, it could be an early warning sign of uterine cancer, says an oncologist. The good news: Women diagnosed at stage 1, when the cancer hasn’t spread, have a five-year survival rate of 88 percent, according to the Dr.

Sores or pain in the mouth

A cold sore that heals is probably nothing to worry about, nor is a toothache that goes away after a trip to the dentist. But if you notice sores that don’t heal, pain that sticks around, white or red patches on the gums or tongue, and any swelling or numbness of the jaw it could be a sign of some mouth cancers. If they persist for longer than two weeks, the  doctor suggests seeing a doctor.

Bloating

Nearly every woman complains of bloating, especially during that time of the month; but if you notice you’re still bloated after your cycle finishes or you feel consistently constipated, it could be a symptom of ovarian cancer or uterine cancer. “If it’s been a few weeks and isn’t getting better, that’s a change, that’s not you,” says a Dr.  “Ask a doctor to take a closer look.” Many ovarian cancer patients report having experienced vague symptoms, like bloating, that they ignored for months before seeking help, says a gastroenterologist. A feeling of fullness despite a lighter appetite is another common sign of ovarian cancer.

Abnormal periods or pelvic pain

It’s not uncommon for women to have irregular periods, but if your flow suddenly becomes significantly heavier month after month, if you start bleeding between periods, or if you have pelvic pain, ask your doctor for a trans-vaginal ultrasound to check for uterine, ovarian, or other vaginal cancers.

Chronic coughing

Everyone gets colds that have you feel like you’re coughing up a lung. But if you develop a cough that lasts three weeks or more and you don’t have other symptoms that usually accompany a cold or allergies, like a stuffy nose, it could be an early symptom of lung cancer. Leukemia can also cause symptoms that seem like bronchitis or a bad chest cold. “If it’s different than your regular cough and if it persists or you cough up a little blood, that’s significant,” says the Dr. Some lung cancer patients report chest pain that extends up into the shoulder or down the arm.

Stomach pain or nausea

An upset stomach is so common it will rarely mean you have cancer. But if you notice persistent stomach cramps or are suddenly nauseous all the time and it’s not getting better, see a doctor. It could turn out to be something as simple as an ulcer, but it could also be a symptom of leukemia or esophageal, liver, pancreatic, or colorectal cancer.

Frequent fevers or infection

If you’re usually healthy but notice yourself getting sick or feverish more frequently, it could be an early sign of leukemia. Leukemia is cancer of the blood and triggers the body to produce abnormal white blood cells, sapping the body’s infection-fighting abilities by weakening the immune system. Pay attention to flu-like symptoms, like achiness or fever, which don’t go away.

Difficulty swallowing

A sore throat can make swallowing hard or painful, but if you notice it persists for a few weeks and gets worse, see your doctor. This is a common sign of throat or stomach cancer and could also be an early sign of lung cancer. Find out how to tell if difficulty swallowing is related to thyroid cancer symptoms.

Excessive bruising

You wake up with one mysterious bruise—probably not reason to worry, maybe you bumped into something stumbling to the bathroom last night. But if you start to notice bruises popping up all the time, especially in strange places like your hands or fingers, it should raise an alarm. Easy, unusual bruising can be a sign of leukemia, according to Cancer specialists. Over time, leukemia impairs the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and clot.

Unexplained weight loss

 Weight loss or unusual changes to appetite can be a sign of many cancers—such as esophageal, pancreatic, liver, and colon—but it’s an especially common symptom of leukemia or lymphoma, says Dr.

Persistent fatigue

Everyone has days when they’re low on energy, but you should feel refreshed after a good night’s sleep or two. If you notice you’re tired every day for more than a month, or experience shortness of breath when you didn’t before, see a doctor, says a Dr.  “Most of the time it won’t be cancer, but get it checked because you never know.” Leukemia and lymphoma commonly cause persistent fatigue.

Chronic headaches

If you’re not prone to migraines and never get headaches, but suddenly find yourself popping ibuprofen every day, it could be a brain cancer symptom, which causes pain by pressing on nerves.

Blood in the stool

Most likely it’s something benign, like hemorrhoids. But this can be a sign of colon cancer. Cases are increasingly common in people under the age of 50—the age at which colon cancer screening is typically first recommended—Dr. says it’s important to get checked out. “It’s easy to dismiss it as hemorrhoids or constipation, and if the problem comes and goes, people reassure themselves that nothing’s wrong, especially younger people,” he says. “But blood in a bowel movement is never normal, so get it checked out.”

Noticeable skin changes

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in America, but it’s also one of the trickiest to recognize the early signs, says Dr.  “Skin cancer is a tough one—many people think freckles, moles, or a darker age spot is just like the others they’ve had,” he says. Dr.  says if you notice a mole getting darker, larger, or becoming raised, get it checked out. Melanoma skin changes are easier to identify because those spots are often irregularly shaped as opposed to round, significantly darker in color, or even two distinctly different colors within one spot, he says. “Melanoma is far less common than other skin cancers but has the potential to be more deadly,” says  the Dr. “However, many melanomas have a long period where they’re not invasive and easy to cure, as long as they’re caught early.”

Breast dimpling, discoloration, or other changes

An unusual lump is the telltale sign of breast cancer women are told to look for. But other breast changes can signal cancer. If you notice the skin of your breast becoming dimpled, a nipple inverting, swelling, tenderness, or slight discoloration of the skin to a deeper red or pink, it could be cause for concern, says a cancer control officer. “Those signs don’t necessarily mean it’s cancer, but that’s exactly why women delay seeking help because they’re hoping it’s nothing,” he says. 


 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                
 PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                               
     https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                     
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