Physiologically and anatomically, men differ from women. One of these features is manifested in the size of the mammary glands and their functioning. In women, nature has laid this part of the body to secrete milk, which is necessary for feeding a newborn baby. In the stronger sex, the mammary gland does not produce a secret. However, both men and women are not immune to the growth of cancer cells in this part of the body. Such a pathological process can cause serious illness and even death.
Is there breast cancer in men?
Representatives of the stronger sex can not boast of such magnificent forms that are present in women. However, they do have a small amount of breast tissue. In fact, the "breast" of an adult male is similar to the female until puberty. It consists of many ducts surrounded by tissues. In women, these cellular elements grow and develop in accordance with hormonal changes. Precisely because it is breast tissue, a stronger sex can also suffer from cancer.
Breast cancer in men is a very rare disease. The likelihood of its occurrence increases with age. The most risky period is considered to be from 60 to 70 years. Many men consider this type of cancer to be exclusively a female prerogative, and therefore often ignore the early manifestations of the disease.
What is gynecomastia?
Separately, it is necessary to talk about such a pathology as gynecomastia. The fact is that breast enlargement in men is not always cancer. Gynecomastia is a pathological proliferation of breast tissue of a benign nature. This is a precancerous condition that requires rational treatment. The disease “signals” that a malfunction has occurred in the body. The neoplasm is usually located under the nipple and is noticeably with the naked eye.
Gynecomastia in adolescents is considered a natural phenomenon. The disease is caused by a hormonal imbalance in the body. This is also true for older people. Gynecomastia today is diagnosed several times more often than breast cancer in men, but both pathologies are outwardly similar. That is why any growth in the nipple should be an occasion to visit a doctor’s office.
Types of Breast Cancer in Men
- Ductal carcinoma. A neoplasm is formed in the ducts of the breast, but does not go beyond it. The disease is successfully treated surgically and has a favorable prognosis.
- Infiltrative ductal carcinoma. The tumor can grow into fatty tissue, as well as metastasize to other tissues. This type of disease accounts for approximately 80% of all detected cases of the disease.
- Infiltrative lobular cancer. Pathology is extremely rare. Malignant cells can spread beyond the lobules where they formed.
- Paget's disease. The neoplasm is formed in the ducts of the gland and then spreads through the nipple.
- Edematous infiltrative cancer. This type of disease is considered very aggressive. Cancer cells are characterized by the ability to block blood vessels in the skin of the breast, preventing the normal flow of lymph through the tissues.
Causes of the disease
We have already figured out whether men can have breast cancer. Now you need to understand the mechanism of development of this disease.
The main reason for the occurrence of oncology in representatives of the stronger sex is hormonal imbalance. Violations are usually caused by an excess of estrogen, which is not fully utilized by the liver. This hormone is produced in adipose tissue, so the risk of developing the disease is increased in overweight men.
The lack of androgens, which in medicine is called Klinefelter's syndrome, also contributes to the occurrence of neoplasms. With this pathology, several X chromosomes are present in the cell nucleus instead of one. Against the background of increased estrogen content and deficiency of male hormones, the teenager's body takes on a feminine appearance. His voice becomes soft, and his hairline is noticeably thinning.
Another important factor is age. As you age, the production of androgens in the body decreases, and the estrogen content increases. The older the man, the greater the likelihood of developing a tumor. Radiation therapy is also capable of provoking the disease. It is usually used for the treatment of cancer pathologies.
Breast cancer in men is due to a genetic predisposition. If close relatives in the family had the same diagnosis, automatically the person is at risk. The fact is that a violation of the structure of some genes affects the production of protein. This substance is responsible for inhibiting the growth of abnormal cells.
How to independently determine the ailment?
Breast cancer in a man is always accompanied by painful discomfort. This is the main symptom that you should pay attention to first. The initial stage of the disease is rarely manifested by characteristic signs, but a certain set of symptoms can be observed:
- change in the shape of the nipple;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- the appearance of a tumor below the nipple.
Starting from the second stage, skin integuments are gradually involved in the pathological process, ulcerations appear. You can notice how the muddy liquid with impurities of blood oozes from the nipple. Such symptoms of breast cancer in men cannot be ignored. Immediate seeking help from a doctor increases the chances of a favorable outcome of the disease.
Medical examination
Diagnosis of the disease begins with a consultation with an oncologist. The specialist conducts a physical examination of the patient, palpates the affected area. This is necessary to determine the localization and approximate size of the neoplasm. A mammogram is then assigned. During the study, the patient should undress and press his chest into a special apparatus. Sometimes tissue compression is accompanied by painful discomfort, but this is necessary to obtain high-quality images. The next step in the diagnosis is ultrasound. Ultrasound examination allows you to get an accurate image of the tumor.
Usually the above manipulations are enough to hear a man diagnosed with cancer. The causes of the disease, more precisely the nature of the neoplasm, can be determined using a biopsy. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The doctor inserts a thin needle into the seal, through which a small amount of contents is pumped out of the tumor. Then the resulting material is studied in laboratory conditions.
Tumor Treatment Methods
To combat breast cancer, modern medicine offers several treatment options: surgery, radiation, hormone and chemotherapy. The choice of a specific tactic depends on the stage of the pathological process and the state of health of the patient.
Surgical treatment of breast cancer in men is aimed at removing the neoplasm and surrounding tissues. Most patients with this diagnosis undergo a radical mastectomy. During surgery, the surgeon removes the entire breast.
Radiation therapy is not used as an independent method of treatment. It is used to destroy cancer cells remaining after surgery. For treatment, high-energy rays are used. They kill pathological elements and slow down the course of the disease.
Chemotherapy is based on the use of cytotoxic drugs. Such drugs kill active cancer cells. Typically, two or more drugs are used in the treatment. Chemotherapy has a number of side effects. The fact is that the drugs used for treatment kill not only "bad", but also healthy elements.
Some types of cancer depend on the content of certain hormones in the blood. These are the so-called hormone-dependent tumors that develop with elevated estrogen levels. Doctors usually use Tamoxifen for treatment. This drug is also used for the female form of breast cancer.
Alternative Treatment Options
None of the alternative therapies can cure a man’s breast cancer. However, alternative medicine helps to combat side effects from medications. Alternative treatments that are used in many Western countries today are aimed at suppressing depression and fear. It is such disorders that cancer patients experience.
In order to help a person overcome anxiety and depression, the following methods are used in the West:
- Creative activity. Poetry, dancing and drawing help people relieve stress. Many oncology departments specifically hire teachers to conduct group classes for patients.
- Exercise allows you to forget about the disease and distract from experiences.
- Meditation. The relaxation technique helps a person to abstract from earthly problems.
- Prayer. Believers are able to draw strength from religious teachings. In many developed countries, priests working in hospitals are not uncommon today.
Breast Cancer Prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. To reduce the likelihood of breast cancer, every man can give up alcohol, monitor weight and eat right. This is the simplest disease prevention.
Oncology of this form in men is very rare, but more often has an unfavorable outcome. The reason is quite simple: most ignore the initial signs of breast cancer. In men, the mammary gland is actually absent. On the other hand, breast tissue is present in large quantities. If there is an organ, a disease may also occur. Cancer and its complications are easy to prevent if you show a little attention to your own body.