Breast cancer rarely occurs in men, accounting for only around 1 percent of all breast cancer cases. But it’s not one to be completely ignored—there are signs and symptoms that one should heed, and causes and predispositions to identify.
Image source: BreastCancerNow.org
Men do have a small amount of breast tissue, similar to the breasts of girls prior to puberty. This tissue doesn’t develop and grow in men, but due to its nature it can still develop breast cancer. It’s rare for men under 35 years old to get breast cancer, as the risk goes up with age and most cases occur between ages 60 and 70.
Breast cancer risk in males is aggravated by different factors, such as elevated estrogen levels, prior exposure to radiation, and a family history of the illness. Mutations in certain genes, such as BRCA2 mutations, are also linked with an increased risk for male breast cancer. BRCA1 mutations, however, are thought to play a smaller role in male cases than in female cases.
The symptoms in men are similar to those in women, with most cases diagnosed upon the discovery of a lump on the chest. Unlike women, though, men tend to delay doctor’s consultation until more severe symptoms such as nipple bleeding occur.
It’s important to differentiate between breast cancer and benign breast conditions, such as gynecomastia or an increase in the amount of male breast tissue. Benign breast tumors are also abnormal lumps or masses of tissue that aren’t cancerous in nature.
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Image source: DoctorsTime.com
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Matias Campiani was a founding partner in several companies and presently is Co-Founder and CEO of Welzwaze Medical, which focuses on the development of AI-based diagnostic and health monitoring solutions, with an emphasis on early breast cancer detection. Learn more about health technologies on this page.
