Breast cancer does not just affect women; males are affected as well, albeit only one in every thousand men has been diagnosed with it. Breast tissues are born in both men and women, and the growth of cancer cells in these tissues causes breast cancer. It is an uncommon occurrence in males under the age of thirty-five, but it may develop over time and can only be clearly seen in men between the ages of sixty and seventy. Due to the disease’s rarity, only a few and restricted instances are accessible to research in depth, despite the fact that breast cancer therapy in men and women is almost same with only minor differences.
Causes of Breast Cancer in Men: Unlike in women, where the features and causes are well characterized, the causes and treatment of breast cancer in men are less well defined. Some of the causes of this disease in males have been linked to hereditary and environmental factors, according to researchers. The following are the reasons:
High levels of Estrogen: Estrogen production in men is very low and insignificant. Certain disorders may cause your body’s estrogen levels to rise, resulting in gynecomastia, or enlarged male breasts. Obesity and long-term use of some drugs (medicines to lower stomach acid, high blood pressure meds) are examples of aberrant situations that elevate estrogen.
Hereditary Causes: Studies reveal that men with a family history of this kind of cancer are more likely to get the illness than females. With a lifetime risk of six in a hundred, if the mutant breast cancer related gene (BRCA2) is inherited by males, the odds grow dramatically.
Finasteride Use:
This medicine, which is commonly used to treat Propecia (baldness) in males as well as the treatment for prostate enlargement (to avoid prostate cancer), is known to raise the risk factor for this disease in men.
Breast Cancer Symptoms in Men:
Men should be aware that it is not just confined to women. Men’s symptoms are comparable to those of women. Among the most obvious signs are:
Sores on the nipple and areola that are visible.
Lymph nodes beneath the arm are enlarged.
Nipple discharge that is clear or bloody.
Nipple ache.
The existence of a breast lump.
If your nipple changes color or becomes disfigured, this is also a symptom that you are getting breast cancer. Changes in the skin covering the breasts, such as reddening, scaling, or dimpling, are also a sure marker of this malignancy in males.
It is important to remember that growth of both (rather than just one) breasts does not always indicate breast cancer. Breast enlargement caused by non-cancerous factors such as excessive alcohol use, weight increase, marijuana usage, and so on. If you see any of these signs and symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor.
Treatment of Breast Illness in Males: Treatment of breast cancer in men is dependent on a variety of circumstances, including the particular site of the cancer, the patient’s age, his overall health, and past therapies. Switching from one form of hormone therapy to another has shown to be beneficial. If hormone treatment does not work, the next step is to undergo full chemotherapy. The cost of breast cancer treatment varies by facility.
Several medications and pharmacological combinations have been shown to be effective in the ejection of cancer cells.
