Breast Cancer in Men

Many people today think only women can develop breast cancer but little do they know that men can, too. While the cancer is similar, the number of men vs. women who will develop the cancer is much different. Early detection in men may be easier than their female counterparts, but treatment of the male’s breast cancer may not be as advanced as the ladies.Breast cancer in men is similar to the cancer in women. Since both sexes have tissue in their breast area, both are at risk to developing the cancer. There are cells called duct cells in men which can undergo cancerous changes. Something that is very important to understand when it comes to this particular cancer is the lymph system. One of the ways the cancer can spread to other parts of the body if not treated fast enough, is by the lymph system.The statistics between female and male breast cancer is a bit shocking. Of course, it is known that women are more likely to develop the cancer, but surely people don’t realize the difference in the statistics between the two. The American Cancer Society estimated in 2010 that about 1,970 men will be diagnosed with the cancer and that only 390 of those men will die because of it. If you think that is a lot, wait till you hear the statistics for the females. The estimated females diagnosed with the cancer in 2010 are 207,090 and out of those females about 39,840 will lose their battle against the cancer. The main reason that breast cancer is less common in males is because the breast duct isn’t as developed as it is in females. Also, it is proven that men and woman who are close to the same stage of cancer will have around the same chances of survival.Detecting the cancer in men is a lot easier than in females. Since females have more breast tissue, it is harder to feel for the lumps in the breast. Since men don’t have as much breast tissue as females, it is much easier to feel the lumps. Another way to detect breast cancer in men is nipple retraction, redness of the nipple or breast area, and discharge from the nipple. If a male is having these symptoms they should definitely see their doctor right away.The basic treatment for breast cancer in men isn’t like treatments for other cancers. Since very few males are diagnosed with it, there isn’t as much research or as many options on what doctors can do to treat them. There is something called local therapy which is the simplest way to treat a tumor. Instead of involving the rest of the body, you can just affect the breast area and get the treatment you need. On the other hand, there is a therapy called systemic therapy which is the opposite of local therapy. Systemic involves drugs that can reach cancer cells anywhere in the body instead of just the area needed of treatment.In conclusion, men can develop breast cancer just like women can, as the male duct cells can undergo cancerous changes. Statistics show that about approximately 400 men died with breast cancer in 2010, while there were approximately 40,000 women that died from it. While it is easier to detect breast cancer in men, their treatments aren’t as widely studied and they don’t have as many options as female breast cancer patients.