Although traditionally
thought of as a female-related problem breast cancer can affect
men as well as women. The main reason we don;t hear about it as
often is that it occurs far less frequently in men than in women.
Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all cases of breast
cancer. The average age of men who are found to have breast cancer
is between 60 and 70 years of age, although men of all ages can
develop breast cancer.
What To Watch For
As with women, early diagnosise improves the chances of a good
out come. Breast Self-Exams can be benificial and can be incoperated
at the sametime as an examination of the genitials for unusual
lumps and bumps.
By
far the most common sympton of male breast cancer is the discovery
of a painless lump by the patient himself. Typically the lump
will appear right underneath the breast but it seldom the only
syptom.
Men
are far more likely than women to experience nipple discharge
as an early symptom. It's worth noting here that most breast cancers
are not large in size. A recent study found that 51% of all tumours
were less than 1.5 inches in diamater.
Call
For Action
It's a plain fact that many people are simply unaware that men
can suffer from breast cancer. As a result many men don;t routinly
exam this part of themselves and even Doctors can over look it.
Another fact is that many men who do find symptoms take longer
to go the Doctor than many women.
For
some men the reason for the delay is that some men appear to see
breast cancer as a flaw in their masculintly or simply don;t realise
that men can get the disease.
Treatment
The treatment is generally similar to the treatment of female
breast cancer. The basic therapy for cancer that shows no signs
of distant spreading is surgery. In advanced stages, it is hormonal
and chemotherapy. Also, it is always best to consult your physician
about treatment alternatives, such as involving yourself in an
experimental clinical trial.
The
small number of men who develop breast cancer makes it unlikely
that large prospective trials can ever be undertaken to compare
various therapies. It is possible, nonetheless, that institutions
that see more than the usual number of cases could collaborate
in developing a fund of reliable information.
In
the meantime, it is important that individual physicians and surgeons
keep careful records to document the cases of the several hundred
men who develop breast cancer each year in the US.
To
improve the prognosis of male breast cancer, broader efforts are
needed to let men know that the disease exists and that, like
other cancers, it can be cured or controlled if it is diagnosed
and treated promptly.
The
message is simple really guys. It can happen to you, and knowing
how to examine your own breasts can save your life.
Other
links Of Interest:
American Cancer
Society
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