Overview
Breast cancer is steadily thought of as something that only affects women, however men can get it in rare circumstances. It develops in the small amount of breast tissue men have behind their nipples.
It most often happens in men over 60, but can very on occasion have an effect on more youthful males.
Symptoms of breast cancer in males
Signs of breast most cancers in men include:
• a lump in the breast – this is in most cases arduous, painless and does not move round within the breast
• the nipple turning inwards (inverted nipple)
• fluid oozing from the nipple (nipple discharge), that could be streaked with blood
• a sore or rash around the nipple that doesn’t go away
• the nipple or surrounding skin turning into exhausting, crimson or swollen
• small bumps within the armpit (swollen glands)
When to peer your GP
See your GP if in case you have:
• a lump to your breast
• every other being concerned signs, comparable to nipple discharge
• a history of breast most cancers (in males or women) in close members of your circle of relatives and you might be nervous about your possibilities of getting it
It’s impossible you’ve got cancer, but it’s best to get looked at. Your GP will examine your breast and will refer you for tests and scans for breast most cancers if needed.
If you wouldn’t have signs but have a transparent family history of breast most cancers, your GP might refer you to a genetic specialist to talk about your possibility of getting it.
There are some inherited genes that building up your possibility of most cancers and a blood take a look at can also be accomplished to test for those. Read about testing for cancer risk genes.
Treatments for breast most cancers in men
The remedy for breast cancer in males is dependent upon how some distance the cancer has unfold.
Possible therapies come with:
• surgical treatment to take away the affected breast tissue and nipple (mastectomy) and some of the glands in your armpit
• radiotherapy – where radiation is used to kill cancer cells
• chemotherapy – where drugs is used to kill cancer cells
• different medicines that assist prevent breast most cancers growing – including tamoxifen and trastuzumab (Herceptin)
Many males have surgical procedure followed by way of one or more of the opposite remedies. This can lend a hand stop the most cancers coming back someday.
Outlook for breast cancer in men
The outlook for breast most cancers in men varies relying on how a long way it has unfold by the time it’s recognized.
It may be conceivable to treatment breast cancer it it’s caught at an early stage.
A remedy is much less most likely if the cancer isn’t found until it has spread past the breast. In these circumstances, treatment can relieve your symptoms and let you live longer.
Speak in your breast care nurse if you would like to know extra about the outlook in your most cancers.
Causes of breast most cancers in males
The actual explanation for breast most cancers in males is not identified, but there are a few things that build up your risk of having it.
These include:
• genes and family history – inheriting faulty versions of genes called BRCA1 or BRCA2 increases your possibility of breast most cancers
• prerequisites that may building up the extent of oestrogen within the body – including obesity, Klinefelter syndrome and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
• earlier radiotherapy to the chest house
It’s no longer certain if you’ll do anything else to cut back your possibility, but eating a balanced nutrition, losing weight in case you are overweight and not drinking an excessive amount of alcohol may help.