The Cayman Islands Cancer Society is observing November as Cancer Awareness Month for men and while the focus will be on prostate and testicular cancer, it must not be forgotten that men are susceptible to breast cancer.
Globally, 1 per cent of all breast cancers occur in men but there are in fact men in Cayman who have received just such a diagnosis. The most common type of male breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma but they can also develop other types of breast cancer including Paget’s disease and inflammatory breast cancer.
Breast cancer develops in the breast tissue that men have behind their nipples and men are encouraged to become familiar with their breasts and report any changes to their doctor without delay. Breast cancer often spreads at a rapid pace to other parts of the body in men because they have less breast tissue than women.
The most common change to a breast or surrounding tissue a man might feel or notice is the appearance of a lump or lumps in a breast. Not all lumps are malignant (cancerous). Some breast lumps in men can be caused by another medical condition known as gynaecomastia.
This condition is caused by an increase in the female hormone estrogen, or a decrease in the male hormone androgen in the blood.
Other changes a man might notice and should cause him to consult a doctor are a change in the size, shape or skin of the breast, changes in the nipple (for example, it may become inward-pointing, discharge from a nipple, ulcers or sores on the nipple or a rash on the nipple or surrounding area.)
Breast pain is rarely a symptom of breast cancer in the early stages but it should not be ignored. If breast cancer is suspected a doctor will order an ultrasound of the breast and/or a mammogram and may follow-up with a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
There are a number of factors that may increase a man’s likelihood of developing breast cancer. These include having a close relative (a parent, a brother or sister, or a son or daughter) with a history of breast cancer. The risk is greater the more relatives that are affected and the younger they were when diagnosed. Other factors are hormonal such as having higher blood levels of estrogen or low levels of androgen.
High levels of estrogen and low androgen can develop in men who are obese as fat cells in the body convert male hormones into estrogen. High alcohol intake is another reason for this hormone imbalance. The liver is important in hormone metabolism and liver damage that occurs as a result of excessive alcohol intake affects this process resulting in the hormone imbalance.
Men with a genetic condition known as Klinefelter’s syndrome, a condition in which they are born with an extra female chromosome, are also at increased risk for breast cancer.
Things that men might do to reduce their risk are to control their weight through diet and exercise and limit alcohol consumption. Breast cancer in men is rare and for this reason, there is no routine screening test for men for this disease.
The take home message to men is this: Just as women need to be aware of their breasts, so too must men. Early detection is the key to surviving, so talk to your doctor if you notice any changes.
For more information on breast cancer in men contact the Cayman Islands Cancer Society by calling 949-7618 or emailing [email protected].
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