The tumor is extremely rare, but can occur; learn more about the symptoms, causes and treatment of the disease
Although it is more common in women, breast cancer also affects men. It is important to talk about it because lack of knowledge prevents early diagnosis. The direct consequence is more aggressive treatments and fewer chances of cure, as cancer is commonly treated at an advanced stage.
Therefore, this pink October, the Earth draws men’s attention to self-examination and medical monitoring. The sooner the tumor is discovered, the better. Find out more on the topic below.
Frequency of male breast cancer
The proportion is small: for every 100 confirmed diagnoses in females, only 1 for the male group. This year, about 73,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected in women and about 730 in men across Brazil.
The estimate was transmitted to Terra by mastologist and oncological surgeon Wesley Andrade, who underlines the importance of raising awareness among the population on the topic to avoid late diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms of male breast cancer
The main signs of this type of tumor are:
- palpable lump in the breast
- skin retraction
- areolar retraction
- discharge from the nipple
- knots under the arm
“Occasionally, skin changes may occur, such as redness and the appearance of thickened skin, like an orange peel. These symptoms are similar to those of cancer in a woman’s body in a more advanced stage,” emphasizes the doctor.
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Diagnosis
After noticing the presence of a lump, the patient should consult a doctor. The professional will then evaluate the situation and, in case of suspicion, order the usual tests, such as mammography and biopsy.
The analysis of the latter will confirm whether it is a benign or malignant nodule. “What we have observed is that men end up delaying their visit to the doctor,” complains the mastologist.
«She ends up ignoring the presence of that small lump in her breast, treating it like an ingrown hair, a pimple and putting it off. Then when the patient arrives at the doctor’s office, typically this lesion is already large, locally advanced, which requires more aggressive care, with a lower chance of recovery, “he adds.
Causes
Like other types of cancer, the main cause of breast disease is related to the biological aging process. But there are other risk factors, such as family history, use of female hormones, obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and previous radiation to the chest, used for example to treat lymphomas.
According to the mastologist, every man who is diagnosed with breast disease must also undergo a genetic test to identify if there is a change in the BRCA2 gene. In its natural form, the gene acts as a protector against the formation of tumors. Therefore, when the change is identified, the person is more likely to develop cancer.
“This is very important for the family because if he has this genetic mutation, it is important that we also take care of and follow his descendants, as well as carrying out tests on his siblings and ancestors, father and mother,” Andrade underlines.
Treatment
As the oncological surgeon points out, the treatment is “mainly surgical”. Since men’s breasts are very small, the proportionality between the size of the lump and that of the breast often requires a mastectomy, which is the removal of all the breast tissue.
There are exceptions when the man has large breasts. In these cases it is possible to adopt quadrantectomy, a name given to the removal of only the part affected by the cancer.
In each treatment, the situation of the axilla is also analyzed through sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary dissection when the clinical condition is more advanced. The patient may still need complementary treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
