What is male breast cancer? How is it different from women? What is the treatment? – News18

During U.S. Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week, which ends October 23, pop singer Beyoncé’s father, Matthew Knowles, spoke about his battle with the disease and the importance of a early detection. The 72-year-old, who was his manager, said men were ashamed of the illness. “But the more we talk about it, the more it loses its power,” Knowles said.

Breast cancer in men is rare, meaning less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in men, according to the American Cancer Society. In the United States, approximately 2,350 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in men in 2015. It is approximately 100 times more common in women.

What is male breast cancer?

Male breast cancer is a rare cancer that begins as a growth of cells in the breast tissue of men. It occurs most often in older men, although it can occur at any age, according to the Mayo Clinic.

During puberty, women develop more breast tissue while men do not. But because everyone is born with a small amount of breast tissue, breast cancer can develop in anyone.

There are two types of male breast cancer: ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma. In the first case, the cancer cells start in the ducts and then grow outside the ducts, into other parts of the breast tissue. This is the most common type of male breast cancer. In the second case, the cancer begins in the glands capable of producing breast milk. These glands are called lobules.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), approximately 2,790 new cases of male breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year and approximately 530 men will die from breast cancer. The data also reveals that breast cancer is approximately 100 times less common among white men than among white women. It’s about 70 times less common among black men than among black women.

In India, the incidence of male breast cancer is 1.03%, which matches the global incidence. But three studies carried out in India show different results. A study by Chikaraddi SB, a surgical oncologist at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, reported an incidence rate of 0.4% of all breast cancers. A study carried out by Rai B et al. from northern India revealed an incidence of male breast cancer of 0.5%, while Shah P et al. reported a relatively high incidence of 4.1% in Kashmir, according to the Report on Male Breast Cancer in India: Cancer Research Center Series.

Who is at risk?

The risk of breast cancer increases with age. On average, men with breast cancer are around 72 years old at diagnosis.

If a man takes estrogen-related medications, such as those used for hormone therapy for prostate cancer, his risk of breast cancer increases. Greater than usual exposure to radiation, particularly to the chest, could also increase the risk of breast cancer in men. Obesity may also increase the risk of breast cancer in men because it is linked to higher levels of estrogen in the body.

Another factor is Klinefelter syndrome, in which men are born with more than one copy of the X chromosome. Klinefelter syndrome affects the development of the testicles. This causes changes in the body’s hormonal balance, which can increase the risk of male breast cancer.

Certain conditions, such as liver cirrhosis, can alter the body’s hormonal balance. This increases the risk of breast cancer in men.

What are the symptoms?

Experts note that breast cancer symptoms in men are similar to those in women. These include a painless bump in the area or changes to the skin covering the chest, such as dimpling, wrinkling, peeling, or changes in skin color. Redness of the skin on the chest could also be a symptom of breast cancer in men.

Another symptom Knowles discovered was slight bleeding from the chest.

According to the UK National Health Services, sores or ulcers on the chest, as well as a change in the shape or appearance of a nipple, for example if it turns inward (nipple inverted) or a rash (may look like eczema), could be signs of male breast cancer.

How to reduce the risk?

There is no way to prevent breast cancer in men, but it is possible to reduce the risk of cancer in several ways.

If certain DNA changes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA 2, run in your family, you may have an increased risk of breast cancer. Get genetic testing and breast cancer screening, tell your healthcare provider if you notice any changes, and have an annual breast exam, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The main treatment for male breast cancer is surgery. The most common surgical procedure is a modified radical mastectomy. In this case, the entire breast, including the nipple and sometimes part of the underlying chest muscle and lymph nodes located under the nearby armpit, are removed.

Other treatment may include:

Radiotherapy: Radiation therapy after surgery can kill cancer cells that might not be visible during surgery. Radiation therapy may also be done before surgery to shrink the tumor. This can be done in combination with chemotherapy. Or, it can be used as palliative treatment.

Chemotherapy: This includes using anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. In most cases, chemotherapy works by interfering with the ability of cancer cells to grow or reproduce.

Hormonal therapy: Hormone therapy as a cancer treatment involves taking substances to interfere with the activity of hormones or to stop the production of hormones. Before starting hormone therapy, your doctor will perform a hormone receptor test to see if estrogen and progesterone receptors are present.

Adjuvant therapy: This is radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy given after surgery. It is used to kill any invisible cancer cells.

Wassim McHayleh, MD, medical oncologist and clinical program director for the Breast Cancer Program at AdventHealth Cancer Institute, emphasizes that men with the genetic mutation should perform a monthly breast self-exam at the age 35, a clinical breast examination. examination once a year and mammogram at age 50.