Male Breast Cancer

Highly overlooked or completely unknown, most people don’t realize men too can develop breast cancer. Though the chances of a man getting breast cancer are slim compared to those in women, male bodies have breast cells that can turn cancerous. Even when it is men between the ages of 60 and 70 who are most prone to suffer from this condition, breast cancer in men should be as big a concern as testicular or prostate cancer.

Visible lumps and bumps are regularly mistaken for other health problems or are ignored until there is nothing to be done to solve it. Breasts are a concept mostly related to women. When we say “breasts” or hear “breasts” we think of female figures, not manly ones. And even with the rising  percentage of man boobs developing all over the globe due to hormonal unbalances and overstuffed faces and obesity, men with no sign of “breasts” but pecks or flat chest feel embarrassed and stigmatized to go to consult for breast cancer. And so later diagnosis and late stage cancer are the case (both less likely treatable for an effective outcome).

Like breast cancer in women, prognosis depends on what stage is the cancer found at. More effective and less invasive than undergoing therapy or chemotherapy is early diagnosis and awareness inside the male community. These elements are crucial to increase male survival concerning this condition. Being less known among men, male breast cancer may turn out to be a deadlier disease for this group. Even when breast cancer is men is less common, this illness’ death rate is much higher than both prostate and testicular cancer. So go figure, your chest might be what you should be checking more than your package.

Of course, male breast cancer can happen either because of genetic predisposition, or well because of other factors. You can help your chances of getting breast cancer by not smoking, avoid heavy drinking, follow a healthy diet and exercise. Treatment for some men may only require surgery; others will need surgery and additional therapy (radiation, chemotherapy or hormone therapy.) Make sure to consult with your physician about male breast cancer during your next checkup, specially if there is a history of breas cancer in your family (in males or females).

Tweet This Post