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Overview for Dietary and Lifestyle or Treatment info
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Breast cancer can affect males
as well as females but, fortunately it is not so prevalent (in the USA
it is 1 in 100).
Enlargement of the male breast is brought about by testicular hormone
effect causing the condition of ‘fynaecomastia’. Up to half of all
adolescent boys may experience this in varying degrees. This finding
is not necessarily a precursor to developing cancer. In men enlargement
can be brought about by medication, such as hormones (oestrogen) used
in the treatment of prostate cancer, and from some drugs used in cardiovascular
disease (spifonotodone of digitalsis).
The most common type is an infiltrating duct carcinoma and is usually
detected by the patient. The usual site is central, around the areola,
and may present as a distortion of the nipple, local discharge or skin
ulceration. Due to its situation the cancer cells travel rapidly along
the lymphatic pathway so the condition may have already spread before
being recognised.
Men may not be, in general, aware that they can develop a cancer which
is identified with women and are, therefore, reluctant to approach their
doctor.
There is a syndrome, the Klinefelter Syndrome, characterised by an abnormal
chromosome and clinically identified by the finding of sexual organs
which are underdeveloped and breasts which are larger (synacomostia).
This has not been thought to be associated with cancer of the male breast,
it is though to be 20 times more likely to carry with it cancer of the
breast.
The cancer is on examination found to be hard in consistency. It may
be irregular to palpation but pain is not produced by palpation. A
nipple abnormality may be present and in a general examination, which
is always carried out, the testicles may exhibit abnormality.
Mammography (specific x-ray picture of area) will reveal whether or
not a cancer is present. The identification of enlarged lymph nodes,
particularly in the upper under arm, followed by biopsy (removal for
microscopic examination) will confirm that spread (metastasis) has occurred.
The more localised the lesion is, the more the prognosis is improved.
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