Did you know that men can be diagnosed with breast cancer also. The American cancer Society estimated that there will be 1,910 new cases of male breast cancer in 2009, and that about 440 U.S. men will die this year from the disease.
There has been more media coverage as of late with the news that Peter Criss, a founding member of the group KISS was diagnosed with breast cancer. Criss discovered a lump in his left nipple in December of 2007. He underwent a lumpectomy in February of 2008, and a mastectomy one month later.
Cancerous cells can develop in the small amount of breast tissue that men have behind their nipples. The causes in men is not completely understood. It is most common in men over 60. Also men who have a family history are at higher risk.
The most common type of breast cancer to affect men is invasive ductal carcinoma, which is also the most common type in women. The most common symptom is a lump in the breast area. Other signs could be a change in the size and shape of the breast, nipple discharge or nipple inversion. This leads to the quetion, how is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical examination of the affected breast. Next other test will be done to confirm the diagnosis. These include a mammogram, an ultrasound , needle aspiration and needle biopsy.
Treatment is the same as for women.
MEN GET OVER THE PERCEPTION THAT BREAST CANCER IS A WOMEN’S DISEASE.
Tags: BREAST CANCER, BREAST CANCER IN MEN, CANCER, health
