In the public perception, breast cancer seems to be the “patent” of women, but in fact, men may also suffer from breast cancer, but its incidence is much lower than that of women.
From the physiological structure, men also have breast tissue, although not as developed as women’s breast, but this small amount of breast tissue still has the possibility of pathological changes. There are many reasons for the morbidity of male breast cancer. On the one hand, genetic factors play an important role in it. If there are female breast cancer patients in the family, especially those with gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, the risk of breast cancer in male members is also increased. For example, some studies have shown that men with BRCA2 mutations have a risk of breast cancer that is several times or even tens of times higher than that of ordinary men.
Endocrine disorders are also one of the key factors in the morbidity of male breast cancer. Liver disease may affect the metabolism of estrogen in men, resulting in a relative increase in estrogen levels. Normally, estrogen and androgen in men are in a balanced state. When estrogen levels are too high, it may stimulate breast tissue hyperplasia and increase the risk of cancer. In addition, long-term use of certain estrogen-containing drugs, or long-term alcoholism and other bad habits, may also break the hormone balance. Excessive drinking can damage liver function, which in turn affects the metabolism of estrogen and makes estrogen accumulate in the body.
The symptoms of
male breast cancer are similar to those of women in some ways, but they also have their own characteristics. Usually, men will feel a painless lump under the areola, which is hard in texture and unclear in boundary, and is often easily confused with gynecomastia. However, the lump of male breast cancer may adhere to the skin or pectoral muscle, leading to nipple inversion, nipple discharge and other conditions, which need to be paid great attention to.
In terms of
diagnosis, because of the low incidence of male breast cancer, it is easy to be ignored, and it is often found in a relatively advanced stage. In addition to physical examination, doctors will also use breast ultrasound, molybdenum target and other imaging examinations, if necessary, biopsy to determine the nature of the mass.
The treatment of
male breast cancer is similar to that of female breast cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy and other methods. However, due to the small size of male breast tissue, the surgical method may be different from that of women. In conclusion, although male breast cancer is relatively rare, understanding its morbidity causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods is of great significance for improving men’s health awareness, early detection and treatment of the disease.
