Dec. 4, 2020 | Male breast cancer. It may sound like an oxymoron, like artificial grass or jumbo shrimp, but more than 2,600 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in this country this year, according to the American Cancer Society. And more than 500 men in the United States will die from breast cancer this year. Male breast cancer is most common in older men, though it can occur at any age. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancerous and can spread to other areas. Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an X-ray or felt as a lump. The tumor is malignant if the cells can grow into surrounding tissues or spread to distant areas of the body. Luckily, men diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage have a good chance for a cure.

Dec. 4, 2020 | Everyone is born with a small amount of breast tissue. Breast tissue consists of milk-producing glands called lobules, ducts that carry milk to the nipples and fat. During puberty, women begin developing more breast tissue, and men do not. But because men are born with a small amount of breast tissue, they can develop breast cancer. Breast cancers can start from different parts of the breast. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple, these are known as ductal cancers. Some start in the glands that make breast milk, these are called lobular cancers. It’s also important to understand that most breast lumps are benign and not malignant. Benign breast tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast and they are not life threatening. Any breast lump or change needs to be checked by a health care provider to determine whether it is benign or malignant and whether it might impact your future cancer risk.

Dec. 4, 2020 | It’s not known what causes male breast cancer. Doctors know that male breast cancer occurs when some breast cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do. The accumulating cells form a tumor that may spread, or metastasize, to nearby tissue, to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body. One possible sign of breast cancer for men to watch for includes a lump or swelling that is often, but not always painless. Changes to the skin covering your breast, such as dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling, or changes to your nipple, such as redness or scaling or a nipple that begins to turn inward are others. Sometimes a breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes under the arm or around the collar bone and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt. These changes aren’t always caused by cancer, but if you notice any breast changes, you should see a health care professional as soon as possible.

Dec. 4, 2020 | There are three standard forms of treatment for male breast cancer: surgery, medicines, and radiation. Surgery usually requires a modified radical mastectomy, which involves removal of the breast, many of the lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over the chest muscles, and sometimes part of the chest wall muscles. Chemotherapy is a series of drugs used to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing them or stopping them from dividing. Hormone therapy with a selective estrogen receptor modulator or an aromatase inhibitor is also an option. These drugs work by blocking estrogen receptors on the cancer cells or by blocking an enzyme called aromatase from turning androgen into estrogen. Targeted therapy refers to drugs used to target specific receptors on the cancer cells.  Radiation therapy is another option, high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.

Dec. 4, 2020 | For many men with breast cancer, treatment can remove or destroy the cancer. But it’s still very important to go to all of your follow-up appointments. During these visits, your doctors will ask if you are having any problems. They may do exams and lab tests or imaging tests to look for signs of cancer or treatment side effects. Dr. Daniela Ochoa, a surgical oncologist at UAMS’ Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, says almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some might only last for a few days or weeks, but others might last a long time. Some side effects might not even show up until years after you have finished treatment. Dr. Ochoa says visits with your doctor are a good time for you to ask questions and talk about any changes or problems you notice or concerns you have. However, if you have additional concerns about your cancer, you do not have to wait until your next scheduled visit. You should call your doctor immediately.