Halle Coleman
Staff Writer/ MC301
As October comes to an end and breast cancer awareness is almost over, one form of breast cancer often gets left out. A common misconception is that breast cancer can only affect women. However, there has been a spike in new male breast cancer cases in recent years.
Male breast cancer is a rare, but serious cancer that affects and forms in the breast tissue of men. In January of 2019, The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2020 there would be about 2,620 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed and 520 male deaths from breast cancer.
According to The American Cancer Society (ACS), “Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. The tumor is malignant (cancer) if the cells can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body.
ACS also reports that a male’s breast is very similar to a female’s in the fact that until puberty, boys and girls have a small amount of breast tissue that include of a few ducts located under the nipple and areola. Men’s breast tissue has ducts, but very limited, if any, lobules.
There are different forms of cancer classified by where they start, where the spread to, and the most common. These categories are synonymous between men and women.
Invasive ductal carcinoma is when cancer cells grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive lobular carcinoma occurs when cancer cells spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. Ductal carcinoma is not a cancer, but a breast disease that can lead to breast cancer. With this disease, cancer cells are present only in the lining of the ducts and have not spread to other tissue in the breast.
The most common symptoms of breast cancer in men are a lump or swelling in the breast, red or flaky skin, irritation or dimpling of skin, nipple discharge, and pulling or pain of the nipple. Men also have risk factors that increase the chance of breast cancer. These risk factors include but are not limited to old age, genetic mutations, family history, radiation therapy treatment, hormone therapy treatment, liver disease, obesity, and conditions that affect the testicles.
At the end of 2019, it was discovered through a scientific study at Vanderbilt University that the fatality rate for men 19 percent more in comparison to women.
Dr. Xiao-ou Shu, a professor Vanderbilt and senior author of the study reported that men diagnosed with breast cancer have a worse survival rate, and we don’t understand the exact reason for the disparity. We need to take a closer look at the biology and the treatment.
The ACS also states that breast cancer is significantly less common among white men than black men. Black men with breast cancer tend to have a worse outlook.
Terria Canny, a senior biology/pre-medicine major from Raleigh, N.C. feels like it’s sad that most men do not realize how they are at risk.
She stated, “I actually have an uncle who went through having breast cancer and it was a terrible experience for me and my family. His was discovered on the later end of things, so that’s why I feel like more men need to be paying attention and taking action.”
Dionte Harper, a junior political science major from Chicago, Ill. feels like all the awareness on campus has made him consider male breast cancer.
“I never really thought about my risk for male breast cancer because I felt like my chances are so slim. Once I started seeing all the events and awareness efforts around campus it made me look in the mirror and be more conscious of my health,” he said.
It is very important to act sooner than later when experiencing symptoms and see a primary care physician when feeling concerned. Early detection is a large part of recovery in both men and women.
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