Male Breast Cancer, Causes, Risk Factors and Prevention
By Istvan S Diego
Introduction
Notwithstanding that male breast cancer is a rare phenomenon, it is still possible. Such cases account for only 1% of all breast cancer. The American Cancer Society forecasts that over 1,000 new cases of breast cancer in men will be diagnosed in 2010 ("Male Breast Cancer"). The survival rate in men is lower than in women, mostly because men often report the symptoms of breast cancer too late ("Male Breast Cancer"). The disease is more likely to spread, leaving many men with less hope that treatment will lead to recovery. The main reasons of that are first of all the lack of the research in this field that leads to the second reason that is men’s
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Men with this condition have longer legs, a higher voice, and a thinner beard than average men do. Their testicles are smaller than usual and do not produce functioning sperm cells, so the men are infertile. Compared with other men, they have lower levels of androgens (male hormones) and more estrogens (female hormones). For this reason, they often develop gynecomastia (benign male breast growth) and have an increased risk of male breast cancer. * Radiation exposure: A man whose chest area has been exposed to radiation (usually for treatment of a cancer inside the chest such as Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) has an increased risk of developing breast cancer. * Liver disease: The liver plays an important role in sex hormone metabolism by producing binding proteins, which carry the hormones in the blood. These binding proteins affect the hormones’ activity. Men with severe liver disease such as cirrhosis have relatively low levels of androgen activity and higher estrogen levels. For this reason, they may have an increased risk of developing gynecomastia and breast cancer. * Estrogen treatment: Estrogen-related drugs are sometimes used in hormonal therapy of men with prostate cancer. This treatment may cause a slight increase in breast cancer risk. However, this risk is small compared with the benefits of this treatment in slowing the growth of prostate cancer. Men taking high doses of
Situation: The client is a 50-year-old female teacher who was notified of an abnormal screening mammogram. Diagnosis of infiltrating ductal carcinoma was made following a stereotactic needle biopsy of a 1.5 x 1.5 cm lobulated mass at the 3:00 position in her left breast. The client had a modified radical mastectomy with lymph node dissection. The sentinel lymph node and 11 of 16 lymph nodes were positive for tumor. Estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors were both positive. Further staging work-up was negative for distant metastasis. Her final staging was stage IIB. Her prescribed chemotherapy regimen is 6 cycles of CAF after a single-lumen central line was placed.
As mentioned before, an increase of estrogen in men can help nurture this type of cancer. As breast cells grow and divide quicker in response to the hormone. Genetics also play a small role, as in if a child inherits a corrupted gene from one of his parents. Although, the real cause has yet to be pinpointed by scientists.
Over the past decade breast cancer has become one of the most predominant diseases in the United States. Breast cancer starts out as a malignant tumor in the tissues of the breast which is formed from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men. (Stephan, 2010)
We have all seen the pink ribbons. They have become a national, if not international symbol for breast cancer support and awareness. Breast cancer knows neither racial boundaries nor age restrictions. Females of all ages and ethnicities can develop breast cancer and it is the leading most common cancer among women. Calling attention to this often fatal disease is important by supporting its victims, families and friends of victims, as well as raising funds for breast cancer research. Though males are not immune from developing a breast cancer, for the purposes of this paper, this paper will be limited to information relating breast cancer in females.
Generally speaking, throughout the United States, Cancer is a public health concern that has a significant impact amongst both men and women. At the same time, Breast Cancer indicates development of a tumor from cells in the breast known as a malignant tumor. Breast Cancer can begin at two different points, either the cells of the lobules, that are milk-producing glands, or the ducts, a channel draining milk from the lobule to the nipple (“What is Breast Cancer,” 2016). Specifically speaking about Breast Cancer among women, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2016), it is the most common cancer, regardless of ethnicity or race. Under those
Despite significant advances in research, Breast Cancer is still the most common cancer, affecting both men and especially women. In the US, 232, 670 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed along 62,570 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer in women and about 2,360 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in just 2014 .
Testosterone belongs to a class of male hormones called androgens that is vital for sexual and reproductive development. The National Institutes of Health regards “testosterone as the most important male hormone”(Rettner). Although the primary role of testosterone directly relates to males, women also produce testosterone at lower levels. Women’s total levels are about a “tenth to a twentieth of men’s levels”(Rettner). According to the Mayo Clinic, this hormone plays a role in sex drive, sperm production, fat distribution, red cell production, and maintenance of muscle strength and
There are many different diseases that terrorize the human race every day. Of all of these sicknesses, one of the most devastating is breast cancer. Breast cancer touches all types of people all over the world each day. It is actually the second most common cancer amongst women in the United States. One in every eight women in the United States has some form of breast cancer and currently, the death rates are higher than any other cancer with the exception of lung cancer. Cancer is defined by the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary as “a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis.” Therefore, breast cancer is a disease of
Most men think just they don’t have breast they can not get breast cancer, but men are at low risk of getting breast cancer. The risk for men getting breast cancer is one out one thousand. " About 2,350 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed. About 440 men will die from breast cancer. – American Cancer Society " In order for a man to become in contact with breast cancer it has to be in his gene’s. They have to inherit through their Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) in order to get breast cancer; otherwise men cannot get breast cancer.
Breast cancer is a leading cause of death of women, secondary only to heart disease. Breast cancer will affect one of every eight women or approximately 12% of the population. In 2016 there are 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer that will be diagnosed as well as 46,000 cases of breast cancer in situ in women. Additionally, there are 2,600 cases of breast cancer that will be found in men. Breast cancer rates have been decreasing since the year 2000. This is thought to be partially due to increased screening measures as well as discontinuing the use of hormone replacement therapy. There was as positive link established between hormone therapy
Breast cancer is defined as a malignant tumor in the cells of the breast. A cancerous tumor develops when a group of malignant cells invade the tissue surrounding the breast and can spread to other parts of the body (Cancer.org, 2015). This type of cancer is most common in women. However, men can also fall victim to the disease. In 2015, about 230,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women and approximately 40,000 women will die from this disease (Cancer.org, 2015).
Testicular cancer- cancer to the testicles. Most common in boys 15- 24 years of age. Treatment for this condition may cause infertility.
elevated amounts of insulin add to increased production of the male hormone androgen. This can
“The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast” (Breast Cancer,n.d). What society does not realize, is that men have breasts. If men can have abnormal cell growths in the breast, they are except-able to breast cancer as well. Men need to be aware of the prevention, diagnoses, and treatments for male breast cancer.
Many Americans and individuals worldwide live with one of the most deadly diseases, cancer (American Cancer Society (ACS), 2015). ACS (2015) defines cancer as a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissues. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world today. Although both men and women can contract the disease, genetic studies show that 1 in 3 American men will suffer some form of cancer during their long or short lifespan. There are numerous kinds of cancer that affect different parts of your body. However, in American men the three most common life-threatening cancers target the colon and rectum, lungs, pancreas and liver.