Breast cancer is a malignant tumour that starts in the breast tissue. Breast tissue is present in both men and women. It consists of fat tissue, fibrous tissue, glands (sacs or lobules) and fine ducts. The majority of breast cancers originate in the ducts (ductal cancer). The minority of cancers commence in the lobules (lobular cancers).
Based on the behaviour, breast cancer can again be divided into benign and malignant. Breast cancer can extend to the lymph nodes of the arm pit and other parts of the body, like the liver and bones.
How common is breast cancer found to be in men ?
Approximately 1 percent of all breast cancers are found in men. A lot of men do not know they can get breast cancer. They may not notice the change or even consider it as significant. Also, it may be embarrassing to talk about a change in the breast or chest area and hence, seeing a doctor is delayed until the cancer has grown or spread. This may result in a late diagnosis. The survival is maximal when breast cancer is detected early. If you notice any of the warning signs or other changes in your breast, chest or nipple, consult a doctor immediately.
What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men ?
- A recent lump or a growing lump- Men sometimes merely observe a bump or a lump that is slowly increasing in size. The lump might be either painful or painless.
- Skin changes- There is thickening or dimpling of the skin.
- Nipple changes- a blood-stained discharge from a nipple, an inverted nipple (unless the nipple was turned in from earlier), or a rash on a nipple.
- Change in Breast- A change in the size or shape of breast or a painful area in the breast.
- Rashes on Breast- Rash or red marks which appear only on the breast.
Breast cancer is often thought of as primarily a women’s disease and this may result in men feeling embarrassed to seek medical help, when given a breast cancer diagnosis. If you have a breast symptom get professional advice. If you notice these symptoms, contact your doctor. These symptoms can also be generic. However, it is important to get them checked immediately, even to rule out breast cancer.
What are the questions you need to ask your doctor, if you have breast cancer ?
- What is the kind of breast cancer I have ?
- How far has the breast cancer spread ?
- What is the staging of my breast cancer and what does that imply for me ?
- What are my possible treatment options ?
- Which is the best treatment for me ?
- Would I have any side effects from the recommended treatment ?
- What are the odds of my cancer recurring ?
- How can I be prepared for cancer treatment ?
- What is my prognosis ?
How is the diagnosis of breast cancer in men established ?
The diagnosis is based on information obtained from a battery of tests. These will include a mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy.
What are the tests to diagnose breast cancer in men ?
These include imaging tests, such as a mammogram, an ultrasound, computed tomography scan (CT-Scan) and the clearer magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI Scan).
Mammography is a dedicated medical imaging for the breasts. It utilizes low-dose x-ray to scan the breasts. A mammography examination is called a mammogram. It aids in the early discovery and recognition of breast diseases and cancers.
A biopsy is taken, which basically means tissue is taken from the lump (if the lump is small, then the entire lump is removed), to study it under the microscope and give it a diagnosis.
How is breast cancer staged ?
After the diagnosis of breast cancer is established, the next most important thing is to see how much the cancer has spread. This is done by a process called as “staging”. In staging of cancers, what doctors do is study the tumour and its cells under the microscope to see if it is benign and indolent or malignant and aggressive.
Grading is done by taking biopsies and imaging examinations of all the other parts of the body, as well. Staging of breast cancer is based on both histological and clinical information.
The staging of a carcinoma is the principal noteworthy factor in predicting a patient’s prognosis and in formulating the ideal treatment options. Prognosis is nothing but how the disease will take its course and how it affects survival of the patient.
When studying the biopsy tissue under the microscope, the pathologist has to note how the cells are actively multiplying, their numbers and their activity. It also matters how much the cancerous tissue resembles the normal tissue, from which it has arisen. That is known as differentiation and ranges from one end from being well- differentiated to moderately-differentiated to being poorly- differentiated. Well-differentiated tumours behave better whilst poorly differentiated tumours are aggressive in behaviour.
How are breast cancers treated ?
Patients with Breast Cancers will need a complete health care team made up of many doctors from numerous specialties, like:
- A Specialist Surgeon
- An Oncosurgeon: These are doctors who treat cancer specifically, with surgery.
- Oncologists: A team of a surgical oncologist, medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist are needed to treat cancers.
- Counsellors: Psychiatric, financial and social counselling will be needed.
After the diagnosis of breast cancer is established and staged, the mainstays of treatment are:
- First and foremost surgery (To remove the primary tumour/ metastatic deposits)
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
The first treatment for breast cancer is usually surgery on the breast, removing the tumour in its entirety and the armpit glands (otherwise known as the axillary lymph nodes). Examination of the resected cancer and the removed lymph nodes by a pathologist, post the operation, will point towards the need for any further treatment.
The surgery – mastectomy
Removal of all of the breast tissue including some of the skin and the nipple is known as mastectomy. The chest muscles are not removed. Some lymph glands in the armpit are surgically removed during the surgery, typically through the same incision.
There are many types of mastectomy such as nipple sparing mastectomy (removal of the breast whilst preserving the nipple), total or simple mastectomy (complete removal of the breast) or radical mastectomy (removal of the breast along with the lymph nodes of the arm-pit).
The other type of breast surgery is Lumpectomy. Under particular circumstances, people affected with breast cancer can opt between complete removal of a breast (mastectomy) and removal of the tumour whilst conserving the breasts (lumpectomy). Lumpectomy will have to be followed by radiation, to kill the remaining/ microscopic tumour cells.
After the surgery, several draining plastic tubes will have to be inserted into the surgical site, to ensure removal of pooled lymph. This is to be done, as the lymph nodes which perform this function will be removed along with the breast tissue.
What are the risks of breast cancer surgery ?
- Post surgical pain & soreness of wound.
- Shoulder pain and stiffness & limitation of movement of shoulder.
- Swelling of the arm and or breast (also known as lymphedema) on the similar side as the breast that is resected. There could be damage to the nerves and blood vessels that supply the muscles of the arm, back, and chest wall, causing altered sensation in the same.
How to find and reach cancer specialists for breast cancer treatment in men ?
Now you can find and reach cancer specialists for breast cancer treatment in men from different cancer hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple cancer specialists, cost estimates for breast cancer treatment in men from different cancer hospitals, compare things and then choose a cancer specialist or a cancer hospital for breast cancer treatment in men.
Find, reach and choose a cancer specialist for breast cancer treatment in men on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
