Understanding Male Breast Cancer
- Cecil Herrin was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer after persistently requesting a mammogram despite initial dismissal by his doctor, leading to a mastectomy. Since then, he has become an advocate for male breast cancer awareness, raising funds and educating men about the disease.
- Men should know their risk factors and not be ashamed if they are diagnosed with male breast cancer. Symptoms of male breast cancer can include a lump in the chest or a thickening in the breast tissue, nipple pain, an inverted nipple, discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody, changes to the color or texture of the nipple, and enlarged lymph nodes under the arm. It’s important to note that these symptoms don’t always signify breast cancer, but anyone experiences changes like these should contact their doctor immediately.
- Experts say that treating male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. While men have some special considerations, treatment options depend greatly on various factors, including the size of the tumor, how far the cancer cells have spread, and biological and genetic factors that may be powering your cancer.
- Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.
Herrin eventually had a mastectomy to remove the cancer and has since become a vocal advocate for male breast cancer, dedicating his efforts to raising funds for the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University, according to Jagwire, the university’s news source.
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Herrin now advises other men like himself, “You know your body better than anybody else. If you feel something like a lump, you need to get it checked by your doctor, and if that doctor tells you, ‘It’s nothing,’ go see another doctor.”
He also said that immediately after waking from his mastectomy, he felt a sense of purpose from God. Now he feels his outspoken nature is a gift he was meant to use to raise awareness and advocate for men’s breast cancer.
Herrin’s determination and compassion has also led to the establishment of the Cecil Herrin Men’s Cancer Support Fund, which helps male cancer patients by providing support for transportation, lodging, and other essential expenses during treatment.
During an earlier interview with Male Breast Cancer Happens, Herrin recounted the struggle he endured to get screened for breast cancer, saying, “Initially, my doctor told me the lump next to my right breast was nothing to worry about. If you have a lump and your doctor tells you not to worry, that’s when you worry. That’s also when you go see another doctor. We men go to the same doctors for years and we take for granted they know everything. They don’t.
“After surviving two heart attacks, I knew something was wrong with my body. You know your body better than anyone. My persistence led to a breast cancer diagnosis. It was Stage 1. I had a mastectomy, but thankfully didn’t need chemo or radiation. I’m on tamoxifen now and the doctors have told me there’s a 15% chance my breast cancer could come back.”
He concluded, “The doctors hardly ever, ever check us men from the waste up. Now my doctors are checking up under my arms, back and chest. I want other men to learn from my experience and I’ve made it my mission to raise male breast cancer awareness.
“Too many men feel alone, but I feel like I am making some progress with my efforts. Patients are starting to become aware. We need to let it be known that men can have breast cancer just like women.
Understanding Male Breast Cancer
Like women, men also have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. It begins when breast cells grow uncontrollably, often forming a tumor that can be felt as a lump.
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A family history of breast cancer can increase a man’s likelihood of developing the disease. In most cases, male breast cancer presents as a lump in the chest region. Additionally, factors such as the individual’s race may influence the overall outlook or prognosis.
Five types of standard treatment are used to treat breast cancer in men:
- Surgery for breast cancer in men mirrors the procedure in women. A modified radical mastectomy removes the whole breast with cancer. The result may involve removing the nipple, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- Chemotherapy involves cancer-killing drugs to prevent the cancer cells from growing. Chemo drugs are usually taken orally or intravenously.
- Hormone therapy removes hormones or blocks their ability to help cancer cells grow.
- In radiation therapy, high-energy beams such as X-rays are aimed at cancer cells to kill them.
- Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.
Meanwhile, there are several risk factors that can increase a man’s chance of developing the disease, just like in the case of female breast cancer. If you’re a man with any, all or some of the following risk factors, vigilance is key.
Possible Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:
- Age. Breast cancer risk increases with age, and most cancers are found in patients over 50. The average age of a man diagnosed with breast cancer is 72.
- Family history. Men with close blood relatives who have had breast cancer are at higher risk for the disease.
- Genetic mutations. Patients may inherit gene defects that make them more susceptible to breast cancer. Men with a mutation in the BRCA2 gene have a 6 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and men with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 1 percent lifetime risk. These gene mutations are most commonly found in families with strong histories of breast or ovarian cancer, but they have also been found in male breast cancer patients without a family history.
- Klinefelter syndrome. Men with Klinefelter syndrome are born with at least one extra X chromosome which may increase a man’s breast cancer risk by producing high levels of estrogen (a hormone responsible for female sex characteristics) and low levels of androgens (hormones responsible for male sex characteristics). This condition affects about 1 in 1,000 men, and can raise the risk of breast cancer by 20 60 times that of the general population.
- Hormone therapy. Men who have been treated with drugs containing estrogen are at a greater breast cancer risk. These drugs were once used to treat prostate cancer, and they are still used in sex reassignment processes.
- Conditions affecting the testicles. Testicle injuries, swelling or removal surgery can increase a man’s risk for the disease by disrupting normal hormone levels.
- Liver disease. Diseases that impede the liver (like cirrhosis) may raise men’s estrogen production and lower their androgen levels, therefore, increasing breast cancer risk.
- Alcohol. Heavy drinking is known to raise the risk of breast cancer (which may be related to alcohol’s effect on the liver).
- Radiation therapy. Men who have received radiation therapy to their chests (for conditions like lymphoma) have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
- Obesity. Fat cells can transform androgens into estrogens, boosting the possibility of an overweight man developing breast cancer.
If any of the above risk factors applies to you, consult your doctor and feel free to ask questions. While it’s true that men can work to lower their breast cancer risk by exercising and maintaining a healthy bodyweight, the most important element of effective cancer treatment is an early diagnosis.
Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer Can Include:
- A lump developed in the breast (usually painless), or a thickening in the breast tissue
- Nipple pain
- An inverted nipple
- Discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody (this was Mathew Knowles’ first symptom)
- Changes to the color or texture of the nipple and areola
- Changes to the color or texture of skin on the chest
- Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm
Treatment for male breast cancer is largely the same as female breast cancer. A person’s options depend greatly on a variety of factors, including the size of the tumor and how far the cancer cells have spread, but possibilities include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy.
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There Is Nothing To Be Ashamed Of With Male Breast Cancer
Marc Futterweit is a two-time breast cancer survivor and he knows first-hand that the shame that comes with a diagnosis of male breast cancer can be quite debilitating. The urge to just ignore the symptoms may sway you from getting screened. But Futterweit has become an advocate for the disease, and is now dedicated to halting that way of thinking.
“Men are basically standing in the shadows,” Futterweit says. “They’re ashamed or embarrassed this is a woman’s disease. [But] why can’t men get breast cancer?”
That’s why Futterweit’s philosophy is “if you feel something, say something.”
Futterweit discovered his cancer after noticing an unusual lump on his chest while showering. He says he was surprised when his doctor recommended a mammogram, but that test likely ended up saving his life.
“The problem with men is that they wait, and they think things are going to go away,” Futterweit says. “Once they’re diagnosed, sometimes it’s too late.”
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Questions for Your Doctor
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If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis whether you’re a man or a woman, here are some questions you can ask your doctor to learn more about it.
- What kind of breast cancer do I have?
- Has the cancer spread to other parts of the body?
- What stage is my cancer in?
- What other tests should I seek out to better understand the cancer before deciding on treatment?
- What are your treatment recommendations and their likely side effects?
- What other doctors can give me additional opinions?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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