Breast cancer in men: causes, symptoms and treatment

Maybe many of you think that breast cancer only occurs in women. However, this is not the case. Breast cancer in men is possible. What caused it? Then, how to recognize the symptoms and possible treatment?

Breast cancer can occur in men

Just like women, men also have breast cells and tissue, which allow cancer cells to grow and develop in that area. However, the breasts in men remain flat and small and do not produce milk.

Men can also have lumps in the breasts. Generally, lumps on men's breasts are caused by a condition called gynecomastia. This condition is very normal and not cancerous.

However, lumps in men's breasts can also be caused by cancer. Breast cancer in men begins when cells in the breast tissue grow abnormally and uncontrollably.

These cancer cells then form tumors in the breast, which can invade the surrounding healthy tissue and lymph nodes, or even to other distant organs.

Most cases of cancer in men are a type of breast cancer inflitrating (invasive) ductal carcinoma (IDC). However, a man may also be diagnosed with other types of breast cancer, such as inflammatory breast cancer or Paget's disease.

This type of cancer in men is a rare disease. Reporting from Breastcancer.org, only about one percent of total breast cancer cases, which occur in men. In 2020, the number of cases is estimated at 2,620 and 520 of them are estimated to have died from this disease.

Causes of breast cancer in men

Until now, it is not clear what causes breast cancer in men. However, there are several factors that can increase a man's risk of developing this disease. These factors include:

1. Age

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. Most cases of breast cancer experienced by men are found at the age of 60-70 years.

2. Genetics and family history

The abnormal (mutated) gene can be passed from parent to child. One of the inherited genes that put a man at greater risk of developing breast cancer is the BRCA2 mutation.

In other words, if a man has parents or family members, especially other men in the family, with a history of breast cancer, then the man is at high risk of experiencing the same thing.

3. Estrogen

Men tend to have lower levels of the hormone estrogen than women. However, under certain conditions, male estrogen levels can increase. Meanwhile, just like women, high levels of estrogen can increase the risk of breast cancer in men.

Here are some conditions that can cause men to have high levels of estrogone hormone therapy, obesity, alcoholism and liver disorders or diseases.

Another risk factor is also caused by a rare medical condition that affects male genetics, called Klinefelter's syndrome. Klinefelter's syndrome is a congenital condition, meaning that men with this condition will produce less than normal levels of the hormone testosterone.

4. Job risk

Men who work in hot temperatures for a long period of time have twice the risk of developing breast cancer than men who work in cool places. Some examples of such work include:

• Welder, blacksmith.
• Steelworker.
• Automotive factory workers.

Initial allegations suggested that consistent heat exposure would damage the testes, resulting in increased estrogen levels. Another allegation is that the work environment with hot temperatures usually involves the activity of certain chemical compounds that can increase the risk of this type of cancer in men.

However, the exact reasons for this are unclear. This finding also remains to be investigated further.

5. Radiation

Men who have received radiotherapy procedures (using high doses of x-rays) on the chest are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Recognizing the symptoms of breast cancer in men

Symptoms of breast cancer in men are generally the same as in women, namely the presence of a hard lump in one breast. This lump is usually located under the nipple and the aerola (the dark circle around the nipple) and is painless.

In addition, several other symptoms may also be felt, such as:

• Inverted nipple or an inward nipple.
• The nipple or surrounding skin becomes hard, red, or swollen.
• Sores or rash on the nipple and areola that won't heal.
• Discharge from the nipple.
• There is a small lump in the armpit due to enlarged lymph nodes in the area.

If the cancer cells have spread (metastasized) to other organs, such as the bones, liver, or lungs, you may experience other symptoms, such as bone pain, shortness of breath, feeling tired all the time, or itchy skin accompanied by sore eyes. yellow.

If you experience a lump in the breast or other symptoms as mentioned above, you should immediately visit a doctor. Although the lump in the breast is not always cancerous. but examination and treatment are still needed. The earlier cancer cells are found, the more likely you are to be cured.

How to diagnose breast cancer in men

The doctor will perform several tests or checks for breast cancer to find out a diagnosis of this disease. Tests that may be taken to detect male breast cancer include:

• Clinical breast examination.
• Mammography.
• Breast ultrasound.
• MRI of the breast.
• Biopsy, mainly to determine the type and stage of breast cancer.

Other tests may also be needed, especially if the breast cancer has spread to other organs in the body. Some of these tests, such as chest x-rays, CT scans, or bone scans.

Treatment of breast cancer in men

Doctors will usually plan breast cancer treatment based on the type and stage of cancer and your overall health condition. These treatment options include:

• Surgical removal of breast tissue (mastectomy), including removal of lymph nodes around the armpit.
• Radiotherapy or breast cancer radiation therapy. This therapy can be done after surgery to remove remaining cancer cells in the breast, chest muscles, or armpits.
• Breast cancer chemotherapy. This procedure is usually performed after surgery to kill cancer cells that may have spread beyond the male breast.
• Hormone therapy. Hormone therapy in men usually uses the drug tamoxifen. Other hormone therapy drugs commonly used for women have not been shown to be effective for men.
• Targeted therapy. The drug that is often used in this treatment procedure, namely trastuzumab (Herceptin).

With these various treatments, male breast cancer may still be cured, especially if it is found at an early stage. However, the chances of being cured of breast cancer will decrease if the cancer cells have spread beyond the breast tissue.

In this condition, treatment is usually needed to slow down the development of cancer cells and extend life expectancy. Therefore, you should immediately consult a doctor if you find certain symptoms of breast cancer.

In addition, you also have to adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk and prevent breast cancer, including in men. Reduce alcohol consumption and maintain a healthy body weight, especially if you have a high risk of breast cancer from genetic factors or congenital diseases.