Breast Cancer Rare in Men But Happens

Breast cancer is much better known in women than in men; however, it can and does happen to men. According to a recent online news story researchers reviewed 10 years of national study data on breast cancer cases, from 1998 to 2007. A combined total of 13,457 male patients diagnosed during those years were included, as compared to 1.4 million women. The database contains about 75 percent of all U.S. breast cancer cases.

Breast Cancer in Men Difficult Train

The men who were analyzed survived an average of about eight years after being diagnosed, as compared to more than 10 years for women. The study is not specifically state whether patients died of breast cancer or some other fate.  A summary of the study will be made in a presentation at a meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons in Phoenix. Dr. Akkamma Ravi, a breast cancer specialist at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, said the research elevates results in smaller studies and could help to increase awareness. Because the disease is so rare in men, research is fairly nonexistent, and doctors mostly treat it the same way they manage the disease in women, she said. The causes of breast cancer in men are not well analyzed, but many of the same factors that elevate women’s chances for developing it also have an effect on men, including older age, cancer-linked gene mutations, a family history of the disease, and heavy drinking. There are no specific guidelines for detecting breast cancer in men.

Breast Health Is Important for Men Too

People should remember that the most significant risk factor for breast cancer is breast tissue. Male patients should be conscious of the existence of male breast tissue especially if it is visibly larger then customary. Some men contact Dr. Seify because they are concerned with excessive breast tissue which is known as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia surgery includes reducing the fat in the chest area as well as excision of the breast tissue. Often men will tell Dr. Seify that the enlarged breast tissue is an embarrassment and does not allow them to wear fitted shirts were to go shirtless. Gynecomastia surgery can be performed in about two hours (depending on the amount of breast tissue) and most patients can return to a desk type job and 3 to 5 days. In most cases a compression vest will be worn after surgery for a period of time to help re-drape the skin and create a flatter more aesthetically pleasing chest. Gynecomastia surgery will not guarantee that a man cannot get breast cancer; however if excessive breast tissue is a concern especially if there is a lump or discharge men should seek medical evaluation.