Breast cancer appears to be a “patent” for women in the general public. However, the fact that men are also at risk of breast cancer, although its incidence is relatively low, does not mean that it can be ignored, as it also poses a serious threat to men ‘ s health if it occurs.
Status of male breast cancer
Male breast cancer accounts for about 1 per cent of all breast cancer cases. Although small, a significant number of men are diagnosed with the disease each year. Because men are less concerned about their own breast health, they are often prone to late diagnosis, making male breast cancer likely to be at a relatively late stage at the time of diagnosis, which also leads to lower projections than female breast cancer.
Causes of breast cancer among males
Hormonal level imbalance
Like women, estrogens and hormonals are found in men. When the balance of the two hormones is broken, such as a relative increase in estrogen levels, the risk of breast cancer may increase. Some of the increases in estrogens in men include liver diseases, as the liver is responsible for metabolic estrogens, which may accumulate in the body as a result of impaired liver function; certain congenital diseases or syndromes, such as the chrome syndrome (with an additional X-chromosomal in the patient), can cause an imbalance between estrogens and estrogens in men. In addition, the long-term use of certain estrogen-containing drugs or estrogen analogues in the exposed environment may be a contributing factor.
Family genetic factors
Genetics also play an important role in the incidence of male breast cancer. There is an increased risk of breast cancer among men if there are female breast cancer patients in the family, especially families with a mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2. These mutations not only increase the risk of female breast cancer, but also affect male relatives.
Other factors
Obesity is a risk factor for male breast cancer. Fatty tissues are higher in obese males, and fat cells can transform male hormones into estrogens, thereby changing the level of hormonals in the body. In addition, there is an increased risk of breast cancer when the breast is treated for radiotherapy, such as for breast diseases such as lymphoma.
Symptoms of male breast cancer
Breast swollen.
The most common symptoms are pain-free swelling of the breast, which is mostly at the bottom of the breast. As male breast tissues are smaller, swelling is more likely to be touched. These puddles are usually hard, borders may not be clear and may increase in a short period of time.
Breast change
The nipples may be retrenched, ingested or accompanied by a nipple spill, which may be colourless, milky or bloodous. There may also be changes in the rash patterns of the skin around nipples and lactation, known as nipple Paget, which is one of the special manifestations of male breast cancer.
Breast skin change.
As the condition develops, the breast skin may be dented, “drinking” similar to female breast cancer, or the breast skin becomes coarse, thicker and orange-like.
Diagnosis and treatment of male breast cancer
Diagnosis
Men should be treated in a timely manner when they find abnormal breast changes. Doctors generally conduct medical examinations first, and then assess the nature of the mammograms by means of video tests such as breast ultrasound, mammograms and MRI. In the case of suspected cases, there may also be a need for a perforation or excavation test to provide a clear diagnosis.
Treatment
The treatment of male breast cancer is similar to that of female, and includes, inter alia, surgery, chemotherapy, treatment of discharge, endocrine treatment, etc. The procedure is usually to remove the side breast tissue, and may also undergo a lymphomy clean-up of the armpit. Chemotherapy and leaching can kill cancer cells and control the spread of tumours; for male breast cancer patients who are estrogen-positive, endocrinological treatment can be controlled by drug inhibition of estrogen.
Prevention recommendations
Men should also be concerned about their breast health and should be able to conduct self-inspection at regular intervals, such as once a month, during a bath or in the mirror, to see if there are swellings or abnormal changes in their nipples. Maintaining healthy lifestyles, such as weight control, avoiding long-term exposure to environmental estrogen analogues, and active treatment of related diseases, such as liver, are essential to reducing the risk of male breast cancer.
In general, although the incidence of breast cancer among men is low, the risk is not negligible. Increased awareness and vigilance of male breast cancer contributes to early detection and treatment and improves patient prognosis.
