Male Breast Cancer

October is breast cancer awareness month, and since my father passed away from breast cancer, I thought it would be appropriate to shed some light on the fact that male breast cancer does exist!

Most men have not had their annual mammography, but what they may not know is that male breast cancer will kill an estimated 440 men this year. Previously considered an anomalous occurrence, nearly two thousand new cases will occur in men by the end of 2009. Though male breast cancer represents less than one percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States, it has been on the rise. However, due to a recent campaign of treatment awareness, the survival rate of males who are diagnosed early has dramatically increased.

Male breast cancer shares much of the same symptomatology as the female version of the disease does. The physiological structure of the male breast is not entirely different from the female. Therefore, some types of breast cancer that male’s contract is virtually identical. Ninety percent of all breast cancer begins around the ducts that produce milk or in tiny tubular structures called lobules that surround them. Men also possess these ducts and lobules, which means that they can potentially produce milk from them. However, under normal circumstances this would be a rare occurrence. This particular form of breast cancer is known as Ductal Carcinoma (DC). What makes any cancer so lethal is the potential for it to spread throughout the body via the bloodstream or lymph system. Breast cancer that spreads beyond its primary location is called Infiltrated Ductal Carcinoma (IDC).

Research into the causes of male breast cancer is ongoing. Some of theories surrounding potential etiologies are obesity, lack of exercise, alcohol abuse, and exposure to abnormal levels of radiation. Heredity is also a primary factor. A genetic mutation called Klinefelter’s Syndrome is responsible for approximately twenty percent of all male breast cancer cases. This unusual condition is one in which males are born with an extra “X” chromosome causing the substandard production of male hormones called androgens and elevated production of female hormones called estrogens.

Treatment awareness begins with the utilization of simple diagnostic tools such as the proper use of self-examination and observation. Learning how to properly examine the breast and observe for abnormalities such as lumps, swelling or nipple discharge can be the first line of defense in early detection. Mammograms may eventually become a more invasive tool in the early detection of breast cancer for men as it has been for women over the last few decades. Clinical trials are also an option for some male breast cancer sufferers. However, many of these trials are often relegated to specific forms of cancer and may not be an option for some diagnosed with the affliction. Currently, there is no known method for preventing male breast cancer that has been proven. However, a healthy lifestyle, which includes a good diet and regular exercise, is often the best method for the prevention of many diseases, ailments, and conditions. This is likely the most sensible approach toward male breast cancer prevention and may even contribute to an eventual cure. Regular checkups via annual physicals can also prove to be lifesavers by contributing to early detection.