Men Get Breast Cancer Too
Men don’t think of themselves as even having breasts. For men, it’s their chest or their “pecs”. So it comes as a surprise to most men to find out that they are at risk for breast cancer.The fact is that men have breast tissue, and they can get breast cancer. We don’t know what causes breast cancer in men, but we do know that there are some things that may put a man at higher risk. Awareness is key. Don’t ignore warning signs! Call your doctor right away if you notice any changes in your chest area, such as a lump or a change in your nipples. We can’t prevent breast cancer, but if you do get breast cancer, it will make a difference if you find it early and get treated right away. Facts About Men and Breast Cancer • Men tend to discover they have breast cancer between ages 50 and 70. • Men, like women, should examine their breasts monthly for any changes, including a lump, nipple discharge, skin dimpling, nipple redness or scaliness, or an inverted nipple. • Screening mammograms for men are not covered by insurance, but diagnostic mammograms and other tests may be covered. • Two black men per 100,000 develop breast cancer, compared to one white man per 100,000. • Black men, like black women, tend to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage of the disease. • High levels of radiation exposure, high levels of estrogen, inherited gene mutation, a family history of breast cancer, being overweight and heavy alcohol drinking are risk factors that increase the chance of developing breast cancer. • A lumpectomy for a man is similar to mastectomy for a woman because men have less breast tissue. • A tumor in a man’s breast can feel like a pulled muscle because the breast tissue is thinner than a woman’s and the tumor can be sitting on top of a muscle. • Treatment for men and women with breast cancer is the same and involves a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or hormone therapy. |
ONLINE RESOURCESImaginis.com - Information on breast cancerin men from an independent, comprehensive website on breast cancer. www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/bcmen.asp John W Nick Foundation - 888-222-4441 - Foundation with website dedicated to informing the medical community and the public about the dancer and prevalence of male breast cancer. www.johnwnickfoundation.org email: JohnW.NickF@aol.com Male breast cancer listserv - Online discussion group hosted by the Association of Cancer Online Resources. www.listserv.acor.org/archives MayoClinic.com -- Information on male breast cancer for consumers from expert physicians and scientists at the Mayo clinic. www.mayoclinic.com/health/male-breast-cancer/DS00661 Medline Plus -- Information on male breast cancer from the National Library of Medicine, other government agencies and health-related organizations. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ malebreastcancer.html National Cancer Institute -- Male breast cancer resources from the government's leading cancer research institute. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/ malebreast/patient People Living With Cancer -- Oncologist-approved information provided by the American Society of Clinical Oncology providing comprehensive information from prevention through post-treatment. www.plwc.org
"I’m 76 years old and a 31-year breast cancer survivor. Today, after four recurrences, numerous CAT/PET scans, chemotherapy, and all the radiation that my body will stand, I’m still alive and well, thanks to my loving wife, Sonya! Through most of this ordeal, I tried to keep my breast cancer to myself and Sonya, not wanting to tell anyone. However, now I know that by talking about my experience, I might help other men who are unaware of this disease. Please help me spread the word that men can get breast cancer, too!""Men Get Breast Cancer Too" was written by Theron Bell, 31-year survivor
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