October is breast cancer awareness month and it is important to note that breast cancer can not only affect women, but also men.
According to the Breast Cancer Organisation, breast cancer in men is a rare disease. Less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in men. In 2019, about 2,670 men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease. For men, the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is about 1 in 833.
Male breast cancer and breast cancer in women is that it mostly occurs in older men. The average age of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer is 65.
Breast cancer in men often attacks the lymph nodes, making it harder to treat. Just like breast cancer in women, early detection improves the chances of recovery.
The problem, however, is there aren’t standardized methods of detecting breast cancer in men. A mammogram, for instance, requires breast tissue, which some men may not have enough of.
Factors such as weight, estrogen exposure and genetics put men at more risk of contracting male breast cancer.
Here are signs and symptoms to look out for in men’s breast cancer
• Changes in the size and shape of the breast
• A painless lump in the breast, armpit or area surrounding the breast
• Changes in the appearance of the nipple, such as an inverted nipple
• A sore on the breast
• Discharge from the nipple
• Unexplained changes in the skin around the breast that might include redness and dimpling
• Itchiness and rashes around the breast
Treatment typically involves surgery to remove the breast tissue. Other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may be recommended based on your particular situation. Also, check out the signs and symptoms of breast cancer in women here.
As recently reported by The Sauce, world-acclaimed singer Beyonce’s father Mathew Knowles revealed that he is suffering from breast cancer.
