Breast Cancer in Men
According to the most recent estimates for 2009 from the American Cancer Society for male breast cancer in the USA, about 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men. About 440 men will die from breast cancer. The lifetime risk of men getting breast cancer is 1 in 1,000.
Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer:
- A lump or swelling, which is usually, but not always, painless
- Skin dimpling or puckering
- Nipple retraction (turning inward)
- Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
- Discharge from the nipple.
Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:
- Older age-most common in men ages 60-70
- Excessive use of alcohol
- Exposure to estrogen
- Family history of breast cancer
- Klinefelter’s Syndrome-more than one copy of the X chromosome which causes abnormal development of the testicles. A male will produce lower levels of certain male hormones (androgens) and more female hormones (estrogens).
- Liver disease-such as cirrhosis of the liver
- Obesity
- Radiation exposure.
Please listen to Interview #19 at www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey for further discussion of breast cancer in men.
Copyright © by Yvonne Ortega July 6, 2010