Most of us associate breast cancer with women, however there are about 300 men diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year. Male breast cancer is a rare form of cancer accounting for about 1% of all breast cancers cases.
As male breast cancer accounts for a small percentage of cases, unfortunately most information available focuses on helping women, which can be very isolating for a man. However on a practical basis, most of the information men need about breast cancer is the same as women, particularly for symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Age is a risk factor in male breast cancer
Most cases of male breast cancer develop in men between the ages of 60 and 70, although cases have been recorded in men aged from 20 to 90. Therefore age is the single biggest risk factor. Other risk factors include being exposed to radiation particularly at a young age, family history of breast cancer and there is a greater risk for those that suffer from a rare genetic condition called Klinefelter’s syndrome where there is an extra female chromosome present.
In addition to these risks, high oestrogen levels could be an issue. All men produce oestrogen, but if those levels are high, the risk factor could be greater. High oestrogen levels can occur in men with obesity, chronic liver conditions such as cirrhosis and genetic conditions.
Men need to be aware of the symptoms
As male breast cancer is rare and not very widely publicised, it’s vital that men become aware of the symptoms and share this information with others. Many men may ignore a lump or a problem with their nipple putting it down to an infection.
The most common symptom is a lump in the breast area, which can be painless. However there are other signs that may occur including nipple discharge, a change or swelling of the breast, an ulcer or sore on the skin of the breast, turning-in of the nipple, lumps under the arm or possibly a rash on the nipple or surrounding area.
Diagnosing male breast cancer is much the same as female breast cancer. You may be given an ultrasound or a mammogram. If cancer shows up, a biopsy will be taken. Treatments for male breast cancer again are similar to female cancer and the treatment is decided by the stage of the cancer.
Treatment for men with breast cancer
For most men, surgery is the most common option and a mastectomy will be performed, which will remove all the breast tissue and the nipple. Lymph nodes under the arm are usually checked for cancer cells or are removed. In men the cancer will be close to the muscle of the chest wall due to the lack of breast tissue, so it may be likely that radiotherapy is required after the operation to reduce the risk of the cancer cells growing back in the chest wall.
Again depending on the stage of the cancer, other treatments include chemotherapy, hormone therapy or biological therapy. About 90% of male breast cancers are oestrogen receptor positive, therefore hormone therapy is commonly used. This works by attaching to the oestrogen receptors on the surface of the cancer cells preventing the oestrogen from entering the cells and stopping them growing or dividing. Unfortunately there are side effects such as hot flushes, a loss of sex drive, nausea at the beginning of treatment, possible weight gain, low moods and some may experience difficulties in gaining erections.
Biological therapy is used for those that have cancer cells that show receptors called HER2 receptors. This happens when breast cells divide and grow and attach themselves to another protein called HER2. A drug can be used to block this process by attaching itself to the HER2 protein, therefore not allowing the epidermal growth factor to reach the cancer cells.
Many men may find it difficult to cope with male breast cancer because it is so rare and some may find it embarrassing as they see it as a “female disease”, It’s therefore vital that we all share information on this type of cancer so more men become aware of the symptons and don’t delay visiting the doctor if they think they have a problem. It’s also particularly important for men to share their stories, knowing someone else is going through the same experience, can be extremely helpful and comforting.
Please be aware that this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used in place of professional medical care. It should not be used for diagnosing or treating a problem.