Male breast cancer

Symptoms & causes Diagnosis & treatment Doctors & departments Care at Vejthani

Overview

Male breast cancer is an uncommon type of cancer that develops in the breast tissue of men. Although breast cancer is typically associated with women, it can also affect men. The likelihood of developing male breast cancer increases with age, but it can occur at any stage of life.

If diagnosed with male breast cancer at an early stage, there is a good chance of a cure. However, if left untreated, cancer can spread throughout the body, leading to more severe complications. To treat male breast cancer, surgery is typically performed to remove the affected breast tissue. Depending on the individual case, other treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be recommended.

Symptoms

Male breast cancer symptoms and signs can include:

Abnormal nipple discharge
A lump or thickening in your breast tissue that is not painful
Inverted or retracted nipple
Skin changes on the breast e.g. dimpled (orange peel) skin
Changed breast size or shape.

If you are experiencing any persistent signs or symptoms that are causing concern, it is important to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Causes

The exact cause of male breast cancer remains unknown to doctors. However, it is understood that the cancer develops when some breast cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells. As these cells accumulate, they form a tumor that can potentially spread (metastasis) to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

Everybody has a modest amount of breast tissue at birth. The ducts that deliver milk to the nipples, fat, and milk-producing glands (lobules) make up breast tissue.
Women start growing more breast tissue during adolescence, but men do not. Yet, despite having little breast tissue at birth, men can nonetheless get breast cancer.

Men’s breast cancer can be of the following types:

Invasive ductal carcinoma. The most prevalent type of breast cancer in men is invasive ductal carcinoma, which accounts for up to 90% of cases. This form of cancer originates in the breast ducts and can metastasize to other parts of the breast or spread to other parts of the body.
Invasive lobular carcinoma. Lobular breast cancer originates in the lobules and, similar to invasive ductal carcinoma, has the potential to metastasize to other areas of the body.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): The growth of cancerous cells occurs within the ductal lining of the breast. The term “in situ” indicates that the cells have not extended to other parts of the breast or the body.
Inflammatory breast cancer. This is a rapidly developing and uncommon cancer that necessitates urgent treatment. It manifests symptoms similar to those of a breast infection.
Other cancer types. The skin of the nipple can be affected by Paget’s disease of the breast, which is an uncommon form of breast cancer. It may be misidentified as a skin condition like eczema.

Risk factors

Male breast cancer is more likely as a result of the following factors:

Age. As you become older, your chance of breast cancer rises. Men in their 60s are most frequently diagnosed with male breast cancer.
Inherited genes. Inheriting mutated genes, such as BRCA2, from parents increases the risk of breast and prostate cancer. Men with a family history of cancer should consult a doctor and consider genetic testing with a counselor to determine their cancer risk.
History of breast cancer in the family. You have a higher risk of getting breast cancer if a member of your immediate family does.
Obesity. Increased estrogen levels in the body are linked to obesity, which increase the risk of male breast cancer.
Estrogen intake. Using estrogen-related medications, like those employed for prostate cancer hormone therapy, can elevate the probability of developing breast cancer.
Liver disease. Having certain health conditions, such as liver cirrhosis, may decrease the levels of male hormones while increasing the levels of female hormones, thereby raising the risk of developing breast cancer.
Problems of the testicles or surgery. Male breast cancer risk is increased by either having inflamed testicles (orchitis) or having a testicle surgically removed (orchiectomy).
Pain. The breast tissue or underarm region may be painful, sensitive, or irritated. In its place, you can have a painless lump in your breast or armpit.
Radiation Therapy. Breast cancer is more likely to affect men who have received radiation therapy in the chest or torso.
Klinefelter’s syndrome. Is a genetic condition that occurs when boys are born with more than one copy of the X chromosome. This condition can lead to impaired testicular development. As a result, men with Klinefelter’s syndrome tend to produce more estrogen (feminine hormones) and less of certain androgens (masculine hormones).

Diagnosis

Diagnostic tests and procedures that your doctor may perform include:

Clinical breast exam. During a breast examination, the doctor will use their fingertips to check for any abnormalities or changes in your breasts and surrounding areas. They will evaluate the size, texture, and proximity of any lumps to your skin and muscles.
Imaging tests. Doctors can identify abnormal areas in your breast tissue by using imaging tests that produce pictures. Such tests may involve a mammogram, which is a breast X-ray, or an ultrasound that generates images through sound waves.
Biopsy.  A biopsy is required to confirm the presence of breast cancer. The procedure involves using a specialized needle device guided by imaging tests to remove a small piece of tissue from the suspicious area. The extracted sample is sent to a laboratory for examination to determine if cancer cells are present. The laboratory also analyzes the sample to identify the type of cells involved, the grade of the cancer, and the presence of hormone receptors or other receptors that may affect the treatment options.

Depending on your specific circumstances, additional tests and treatments can be advised.

Determining the extent of the cancer

After a doctor diagnoses breast cancer, they will work to determine the stage of the cancer, which helps to predict the prognosis and identify the best treatment options. The staging process involves a variety of tests and procedures, such as bone scans, computerized tomography (CT) scans, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Breast cancer is categorized into stages ranging from 0 to IV, with stage 0 indicating noninvasive cancer that remains within the milk ducts, and stage IV (metastatic breast cancer) indicating cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Staging also considers the grade of the cancer, as well as the presence of tumor markers such as receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2, and proliferation factors.

Treatment

When deciding on treatment for male breast cancer, your doctor will take into account several factors, including the stage of your cancer, your overall health, and your personal preferences. Typically, treatment for male breast cancer will involve surgical procedures and may also involve additional forms of treatment.

Surgery

The aim of surgery is to remove the breast tissue around the tumor through:

Mastectomy. The removal of the whole breast tissue. Your whole breast tissue, including the nipple and areola, is removed by the surgeon.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy. The surgeon will remove some lymph nodes for testing. The doctor will identify the lymph nodes that are most likely to be affected by cancer cells initially. A small number of lymph nodes will be removed and examined. If no cancer cells are found, there is a strong likelihood that your breast cancer has not spread beyond the breast tissue. If cancer cells are discovered, more lymph nodes will be removed for testing.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams such as X-rays and protons to destroy cancer cells. Following surgery for male breast cancer, radiation therapy may be recommended to eliminate any remaining cancer cells in the breast, chest muscles, or armpit area. During radiation therapy, a large machine rotates around the body and delivers energy beams to specific locations on the chest.

Hormone therapy

When a man has male breast cancer, his tumors almost always depend on hormones to proliferate (hormone-sensitive). Your doctor might suggest hormone therapy if your cancer is hormone-sensitive. Tamoxifen is a common drug used in hormone therapy for male breast cancer. There is no evidence that men can benefit from other hormone treatment drugs that are utilized in breast cancer patients.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to eradicate cancer cells. These drugs may be given to you intravenously (via a vein in your arm), orally (in pill form), or both.
Following surgery, your doctor may advise chemotherapy in order to eradicate any cancer cells that may have spread outside of your breast. For males with advanced breast cancer, chemotherapy may also be an option.

Diseases & Conditions Male breast cancer