Every year, on October 19, the world observes Breast Cancer Day. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer, promoting early detection, and advocating for better care.
Contrary to popular belief, breast cancer is not limited to women alone. Men should also be concerned and educated about this disease. Recognising the risk factors, being mindful of symptoms, and seeking early detection are crucial measures in the battle against breast cancer.
Male breast cancer is rare, and begins as a growth of cells in the breast tissue of men, according to the Mayo Clinic, a renowned medical centre. However, it happens more often in older men, though it can occur at any age and anyone can get breast cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 0.5 to1 per cent of breast cancers occur in men.
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According to Dr Fidel Rubagumya, a consultant clinical and radiation oncologist at Rwanda Military Hospital, and co-founder of Rwanda Cancer Relief, "The disease is not common in men, however, we have received and treated many of them on different occasions so it is not something they should ignore.”
He added: "It is a small number compared to women but breast cancer cases in men are there.”
Rubagumya highlighted that similar to women, a man’s risk for developing breast cancer increases as he gets older. "Men with relatives in the family who have had breast cancer are at higher risk.”
To put this in perspective, "About 20 per cent of men who get breast cancer have a close relative—male or female—who has had breast cancer,” the Mayo Clinic says.
Rubagumya further recommends that both men and women should be aware of their bodies, particularly their breasts. It is important to undergo regular check-ups and consult doctors if any abnormalities are detected.
"However, men don’t use mammography, instead we ask them to use ultrasound. For them, it is not screening unless there is a clinical suspicion. That's when we ask them to go for further testing. They don’t go for screening like women do.”
In addition, factors that elevate the risk of male breast cancer include: being in their 60s or older, undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer or taking medications containing oestrogen, possessing inherited DNA alterations that heighten the risk of breast cancer, having liver disease, being obese, experiencing testicle disease or surgery, and several others, as mentioned by Mayo Clinic.
Where breast cancer begins in men
According to Mayo Clinic, everyone is born with a small amount of breast tissue. Breast tissue consists of milk-producing glands, ducts that carry milk to the nipples and fat.
"During puberty, people assigned female at birth typically begin growing more breast tissue. People assigned male at birth generally do not grow more breast tissue. But because everyone is born with a small amount of breast tissue, breast cancer can develop in anyone.”
Symptoms
Mayo Clinic noted: "A painless lump or thickening of the skin on the chest, changes to the skin covering the chest, such as dimpling, puckering, scaling or changes in the colour of the skin, changes to the nipple, such as changes in the skin colour or scaling, or a nipple that begins to turn inward, might be potential symptoms of the disease in men.
Prevention
For most men, there's no way to prevent male breast cancer. For those who have an increased risk of cancer, there may be ways to lower the risk.