Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Breast cancer In Men

By Ray Lam

Most people believe that breast cancer only affects women; this is because most men are not aware that they are also at risk of getting the disease. Given this, men need to be aware of the symptoms and the ways they can handle the disease. Below is a discussion of some important information that men should know about breast cancer in men.

While women are more susceptible to breast cancer, the fact remains that they are also more likely to survive it than a man will, simply because they are more likely to seek treatment earlier. Men simply are not aware of the risk that they have for breast cancer, however men who have man boobs often fear it.

Men who have male boobs should be worried about breast cancer. In most cases, when a man develops breast cancer - whether or not he has male boobs - the cause is hormonal changes - specifically a rise in estrogen, which is contributed to the development of man boobs.

Just as in females, the presence of a lump is a symptom for male breast cancer. It is often painless, and may be occur along with increasing thickness of breasts. The breast skin may appear pitted and show the peau d'orange syndrome. Changes in the nipple, fluid discharge from nipples, inverted nipples, redness around the nipples, and change in the breast skin texture are all symptoms of male breast cancer.

Breast cancer also affects men and it is important that men be equipped with the right information about this disease. Having access to information can help men prevent, detect and seek treatment for male breast cancer, which is as deadly as breast cancer in women.

If the diagnosed breast cancer has not spread outside the original site, that is, if it is in situ, a mastectomy gives great results. If the cancer is invasive, which means it has metastasized outside the site where the cancer started developing, doctors test it to see how much it has advanced. There are four stages, Stage I being the most curable and more reactive to treatment, and Stage IV meaning the cancer has metastasized beyond the stage where a certain cure is possible. This grading helps doctors determine what kind of treatment is needed for you.

Ironically, while men who have man boobs are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer than men who do not, those who do have male boobs have a greater chance of survival. This is because if you have man boobs, the cancer will typically be further away from the chest cavity, reducing the speed at which the cancer spreads, whereas if you do not have man boobs, the cancer is right next to the chest cavity, and the cancer spreads quickly.

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