Male Breast Cancer – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!

Male Breast Cancer – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments  that many ignore. Also, male breast cancer at an early stage has a good chance of cure. Still, many men delay seeing their doctors if they notice one of the usual signs or symptoms, such as a lump in the breast.

male breast cancer

For this reason, many male breast cancers are diagnosed when the disease is more advanced. vMen diagnosed with male breast cancer at an early stage have a good chance of cure. Still, many men delay seeing their doctors if they notice one of the usual signs or symptoms, such as a lump in the breast. For this reason, many  male breast cancers are diagnosed when the disease is more advanced.

What is Male Breast Cancer: Male Breast Cancer  is a rare cancer that forms in the breast tissue of men. Although breast cancer is more commonly in women, Male Breast Cancer occurs. Male breast cancer is more common in older men, although it can occur at any age.

Even though men don’t have breasts like women, they do have a small amount of breast tissue. An adult male’s “breasts” are similar to a girl’s breasts before puberty. In girls, this tissue grows and develops, but in men.

But because it is still breast tissue, men can get Male Breast Cancer . Men get the same types of breast cancer that women do, but cancers involving the parts that make and store milk are rare.

Causes of Male Breast Cancer:  It is not clear what causes Male Breast Cancer .

Doctors know that male breast cancer occurs when some cells in the breast divide faster than healthy cells. The accumulated cells form a tumor that can spread (metastasize) to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

Where Male Breast Cancer Starts in Men : Everyone is born with a small amount of breast tissue. Breast tissue consists of milk -producing glands (lobules), ducts that carry milk to the nipples, and fat.

During puberty, women begin to develop more breast tissue, and men do not. But because men are born with a small amount of breast tissue, they can develop breast cancer. Types of Male Breast Cancer  diagnosed in men include:

  • Cancer that starts in the milk ducts (ductal carcinoma). Almost all male breast cancer is ductal carcinoma.
  • Cancer that starts in the milk -producing glands (lobular carcinoma). This type is rare in men because it has few lobes in the breast tissue.
  • Cancer that spreads to the nipple (Paget’s disease of the nipple). Rarely, Male Breast Cancer forms in the milk ducts and spreads to the nipple, causing scaly, scaly skin around the breast.
  • around the nipple.
  • Hereditary genes that increase the risk of male breast cancer.

Some men inherit abnormal (mutated) genes from their parents that increase the risk of Male Breast Cancer . Mutations in one of several genes, especially a gene called BRCA2, put you at a higher risk of developing breast and prostate cancer.

These genes normally make proteins that stop cells from growing abnormally — which helps prevent cancer . But the mutated genes aren’t as effective at protecting you from cancer.

Meeting with a genetic counselor and undergoing genetic testing can determine whether you carry genetic mutations that increase your risk of male breast cancer — and whether you can pass this gene along to your children, boys and girls. Discuss the benefits and risks of genetic testing with your doctor.

Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer:  Signs and symptoms of Male Breast Cancer can include:

  • A painless lump or thickening in your breast tissue
  • Changes in the skin covering the chest, such as cramp, creaking, redness, or scaling
  • Changes to your nipple, such as redness or scaling, or a nipple that starts to turn inward
  • Discharge from your nipple

When to see a doctor:  Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you.

Male Breast Cancer Risk Factors   Factors that increase the risk of male breast cancer include:

  • Older age: Your risk of male breast cancer increases as you get older. The peak incidence of Male Breast Cancer occurs between the ages of 68 and 71.
  • Estrogen exposure: If you take estrogen-related medications, such as those used as part of a sex reassignment procedure or for hormone therapy for prostate cancer, your risk of breast cancer is increased.
  • Family history of breast cancer: If you have a close family member with Male Breast Cancer , you have a higher chance of developing Male Breast Cancer .
  • Klinefelter Syndrome:  This genetic syndrome occurs when a boy is born with more than one copy of the X chromosome. Klinefelter Syndrome Causes Abnormal Development of the Testicles As a result, men with this syndrome produce lower levels of certain male hormones (androgens) and more female hormones (estrogens).
  • Liver disease: Certain conditions, such as cirrhosis of the liver , can reduce male hormones and increase female hormones, increasing the risk of Male Breast Cancer .
  • Obesity: Fat cells convert androgens into estrogen. A greater number of fat cells in your body can result in increased estrogen and a higher risk of Male Breast Cancer .
  • Exposure to radiation: If you have received radiation treatments to your chest, such as those used to treat Male Breast Cancer , you are more likely to develop Male Breast Cancer  in your lifetime.
  • Testicular disease or surgery: Having inflamed testicles (orchitis) or surgery to remove a testicle (orchiectomy) can increase your risk of male breast cancer .

Treatments for Male Breast Cancer:  To determine your male breast cancer treatment options , your doctor considers the stage of your cancer, your overall health, and your preferences. Treatment for Male Breast Cancer usually involves surgery and may also include other treatments.

Surgery: The goal of Male Breast Cancer surgery  is to remove the tumor and surrounding breast tissue. Procedures include:

  • Removal of breast tissue and surrounding lymph nodes (modified radical mastectomy): The surgeon removes all of your breast tissue, including the nipple and areola, and some underarm lymph nodes .
  • Removal of a lymph node for testing (sentinel lymph node biopsy): The doctor identifies the lymph node that is most likely to be the first place your cancer cells would spread. This lymph node is removed and analyzed. If no cancer cells are found, there is a good chance that your Male Breast Cancer has not spread beyond the breast tissue.
  • Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells: In Male Breast Cancer , radiation therapy can be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells in the breast, chest muscles, or armpit . During radiation therapy, radiation comes from a large machine that moves around your body, directing beams of energy to precise points in your chest.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy for Male Breast Cancer  uses drugs to treat Male Breast Cancer . These drugs can be given through a vein in the arm (intravenously), in pill form, or both.

Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy after Male Breast Cancer surgery  to kill any cancer cells that may have spread to your breast. Chemotherapy may also be an option for  advanced male breast cancer .

Hormone Therapy: Most men with Male Breast Cancer have tumors that depend on hormones to grow (hormone sensitive). If your cancer is hormone sensitive, your doctor may recommend hormone therapy.

Useful links: 

Hormone therapy for Male Breast Cancer usually involves the medication tamoxifen, which is also used for women. Other hormone therapy drugs used in women with breast cancer have not been shown to be effective for men.

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