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Men and Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a disease that people usually associate with women. In fact, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women. But one twist in this sad tales of ailments and diseases is that not only women suffer from it. In fact, a growing number of men are coming out in the open saying that they are suffering from male breast cancer. On the other hand, medical experts suggest that male cancer affects about 1 for every thousand men, far lower than the number of affected women, but still enough to cause alarm all the more because it is unexpected.
What Is Male Breast Cancer?
In both men and women, the breast is covered by small tissues behind the nipple. However, in the case of men, this tissue is rather small, and while it contains ducts (which in females are used to contain milk), then one in males does not contain anything. This is because the testosterone production of a man renders that impossible. On the other hand, cells in this tissue may grow unhampered; when this is the case, male breast cancer is likely to occur.
How Common Is Breast Cancer in Men?
The number of men affected by breast cancer is by far very small compared to the number of women affected. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, only about 480 men die of breast cancer each year in the United States compared to almost 40,000 women who succumb to the disease yearly.
One factor accounting for the low number of males affected is that many are so ashamed to admit of their condition that they prefer to suffer from it in silence than reveal their condition to the general public. This is manifested by the fact that most men diagnosed with the condition are on the 60 to 70 age group, even if the condition started decades earlier. Compared to women, breast cancer sometimes attacks as early as in when they are in their 20s.
Who Are at Risk for Developing Male Breast Cancer?
The following groups are the ones who are at the highest risk level in developing breast cancer:
- Those with a family history of having the disease. It does not matter if the family member previously affected is a man or woman, as long as it is in the immediate family, studies show that a man of later generations might also develop breast cancer.
- Those who are exposed to radiation. Men who have undergone radiation therapy or simply working in environments where radiation is common are likely to develop breast cancer. This is true in the case of radiation technology experts who are suffering from breast cancer.
- Higher estrogen level production. While estrogen is a female hormone, it is produced in men in very small amounts. When there is overproduction of this, breast cancer is a likely result. One condition in men known as gynecomastia - having breasts similar to that of women - is a risk factor for overproduction of estrogen that can lead to breast cancer in the long run.
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MEN'S HEALTH
