Physiologically and anatomically, men are different from women. One of these features is manifested in the size of the mammary glands and their functioning. In women, nature laid this part of the body to secrete milk, which is necessary for feeding a newborn child. In the representatives of the stronger sex, the mammary gland does not produce a secret. However, both men and women are not immune from the growth of cancer cells in this part of the body. Such a pathological process can cause serious illness and even death.
Do men get breast cancer?
Representatives of the stronger sex cannot boast of such magnificent forms that women have. However, they do have a small amount of breast tissue. In fact, the "breast" of an adult male is similar to a woman's until puberty. It consists of many ducts surrounded by tissues. In women, these cellular elements grow and develop in accordance with hormonal changes. Precisely because it is breast tissue, the stronger sex can also suffer from cancer.
Breast cancermen are a very rare disease. The likelihood of its occurrence increases with age. The most risky is the period from 60 to 70 years. Many men consider this type of cancer exclusively female prerogative, so they often ignore the early manifestations of the disease.
What is gynecomastia?
Separately, we should talk about such a pathology as gynecomastia. The fact is that breast enlargement in men is not always cancer. Gynecomastia is a pathological growth of breast tissue of a benign nature. This is a precancerous condition that requires rational treatment. The disease "signals" that the body has failed. The growth is usually located under the nipple and is visible to the naked eye.
Gynecomastia in adolescents is considered a natural phenomenon. The disease is caused by a hormonal imbalance in the body. This is true for older people as well. Gynecomastia today is diagnosed several times more often than breast cancer in men, but both pathologies are outwardly similar. That is why any growth in the nipple area should be a reason to visit the doctor's office.
Types of breast cancer in men
- Ductal carcinoma. The neoplasm is formed in the ducts of the mammary gland, but does not go beyond it. The disease is successfully treated surgically and has a favorable prognosis.
- Infiltrative ductal carcinoma. The tumor can grow into fatty tissue, as well as metastasize to other tissues. To share thistype of disease accounts for approximately 80% of all detected cases of the disease.
- Infiltrative lobular cancer. Pathology is extremely rare. Malignant cells can spread beyond the lobule where they formed.
- Paget's disease. The neoplasm is formed in the ducts of the gland and then spreads along the nipple.
- Edematous-infiltrative cancer. This type of disease is considered very aggressive. Cancer cells are distinguished by their ability to block blood vessels in the skin of the breast, preventing the normal flow of lymph through the tissues.
Causes of disease development
We have already found out if men can get breast cancer. Now it is necessary to understand the mechanism of development of this disease.
The main cause of oncology in the stronger sex, doctors believe hormonal imbalance. Violations are usually caused by an excess of estrogen, which is not fully utilized by the liver. This hormone is produced in adipose tissue, so the risk of developing the disease is increased in overweight men.
Androgen deficiency, which in medicine is called Klinefelter's syndrome, also contributes to the formation of neoplasms. With this pathology, there are several X chromosomes in the cell nucleus instead of one. Against the background of high estrogen levels and a deficiency of male hormones, the body of a teenager takes on a feminine look. His voice becomes soft and his hair thins noticeably.
Another importantage is considered a factor. As we age, the body's production of androgens decreases and estrogen levels rise. The older the man, the more likely it is to develop a tumor. Radiation therapy can also provoke the disease. It is usually used to treat oncological pathologies.
Breast cancer in men is caused by a genetic predisposition. If close relatives in the family had the same diagnosis, the person automatically falls into the risk group. The fact is that a violation of the structure of some genes affects the production of protein. This substance is responsible for inhibiting the growth of pathological cells.
How to identify the disease yourself?
Breast cancer in a man is always accompanied by painful discomfort. This is the main symptom that you should pay attention to first. The initial stage of the disease is rarely manifested by characteristic signs, but a certain set of symptoms can be observed:
- changing the shape of the nipple;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- appearance of neoplasm below the nipple.
Starting from the second stage, the skin is gradually involved in the pathological process, ulcerations appear. You can see how a cloudy liquid with blood impurities oozes from the nipple. Such symptoms of breast cancer in men should not be ignored. Immediate seeking medical help increases the chances of a favorable outcome of the disease.
Medical examination
Diagnosis of the disease begins withconsultation with an oncologist. The specialist conducts a physical examination of the patient, palpates the affected area. This is necessary to determine the location and approximate size of the neoplasm. Then a mammogram is scheduled. During the study, the patient must undress and press his chest against a special apparatus. Sometimes tissue compression is accompanied by painful discomfort, but this is necessary to obtain high-quality images. The next step in the diagnosis is ultrasound. Ultrasound examination provides an accurate image of the neoplasm.
Usually, the manipulations listed above are enough for a man to hear the diagnosis of cancer. The causes of the disease, or rather the nature of the neoplasm, can be determined using a biopsy. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The doctor inserts a thin needle into the seal, through which a small amount of contents is pumped out of the tumor. Then the resulting material is studied in the laboratory.
Tumor treatment methods
To fight breast cancer, modern medicine offers several treatment options: surgery, radiation, hormonal and chemotherapy. The choice of a specific tactic depends on the stage of the pathological process and the state of he alth of the patient.
Surgical treatment of breast cancer in men is aimed at removing the neoplasm and surrounding tissues. Most patients with this diagnosis undergo a radical mastectomy. During the operation, the surgeon removes the entire breast.
Radiotherapy is not usedas a standalone treatment. It is used to destroy the remaining cancer cells after the operation. For treatment, high-energy rays are used. They kill pathological elements and slow down the course of the disease.
Chemotherapy is based on the use of cytotoxic drugs. Such drugs destroy actively multiplying cancer cells. Usually, two or more drugs are used in the treatment. Chemotherapy has a number of side effects. The fact is that the drugs used for treatment kill not only “bad”, but also he althy elements.
Some types of cancer depend on certain hormones in the blood. These are the so-called hormone-dependent tumors that develop with an increased level of estrogen. For treatment, doctors usually use Tamoxifen. This drug is also used for female breast cancer.
Alternative treatment options
None of the alternative therapies can cure a man's breast cancer. However, alternative medicine helps to deal with the side effects of the medications taken. Alternative therapies that are used today in many Western countries are aimed at suppressing depression and fear. It is these disorders that cancer patients experience.
In order to help a person overcome anxiety and depression, the following methods are used in the West:
- Creative activity. Poetry, dancing and drawing help people relieve stress. Manyoncology departments are specifically hiring teachers who conduct group classes for patients.
- Physical exercise allows you to forget about the disease and distract from experiences.
- Meditation. Relaxation techniques help a person to abstract from earthly problems.
- Prayer. Believers are able to draw strength from religious teachings. In many developed countries today, priests working at hospitals are not uncommon.
Breast Cancer Prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. To reduce the likelihood of breast cancer, every man can give up alcohol, watch his weight and eat right. This is the simplest prevention of the disease.
Oncology of this form in men is very rare, but often has an unfavorable outcome. The reason is quite simple: most people ignore the initial signs of breast cancer. In men, there is virtually no mammary gland. On the other hand, breast tissue is present in large quantities. If there is an organ, disease can also occur. Cancer and its complications are easy to prevent with a little attention to your own body.
