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Are you at risk for male breast cancer?

Pink Ribbon For Men Too

October is observed as International Breast Cancer Awareness month worldwide. Governments and health agencies take this opportunity to spread information and knowledge about this disease, its risk factors, and treatment options. For the most part, in the last 25 years of this awareness campaign, the focus has been on women. Breast cancer has gradually come to be seen as a condition that is confined to women alone. What many people do not know is that breast cancer can afflict men too. Given the misconception that men cannot get this disease, identifying it early becomes a challenge in treatment and cure of breast cancer among men. Here is an overview of factors that can put men at greater danger for acquiring this disease.

1. Family History

It has been documented that 20 percent of diagnosed cases of male breast cancer are found in men who have had a close blood relative who had a breast cancer diagnosis.

2. Idiopathic Radiation Exposure

Males who have undergone radiation therapy for other types of cancer, have been found to be at higher risk for developing breast cancer as time progresses. This has been found to be more prevalent when the radiation therapy was directed to the chest area.

3. Inherited Genetic Mutation

As mentioned earlier, men with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer tend to develop it more than others. This has also been linked to inherited gene mutation. The mutated BRCA gene has been found to be the cause for this. These account for about 10 percent of male breast cancers. Typically, these families demonstrate a younger age for developing cancer than the average male breast cancer patients.

4. Advanced Age

Male breast cancer tends to occur in older males, with an average age of 68 – when first diagnosed. Most diagnoses are made in males over the age of 60.

5. Cirrhosis and Other Liver Diseases

The liver functions to preserve the balance of androgen and estrogen, so that differentiation of sexual characteristics is maintained. Patients with liver damage tend to have elevated levels of estrogen and suppressed levels of androgen. This has been linked by research to higher risk for developing male breast cancer.

6. Uncontrolled Alcohol Consumption

Chronic and ongoing consumption of alcohol leads to irreversible liver damage and cirrhosis. This impairs the liver’s ability to break down estrogen in males, leading to higher risk of male breast cancer.

7. Use of Estrogen Products

Estrogen and estrogen-like drugs are used in some cases as hormonal therapy for treating men with prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. It has been found that this can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Other scenarios in which estrogen-like substances may be used therapeutically include a sex change procedure.

8. Obesity

Studies linking obesity and breast cancer in women have been around for a long time, but recent research shows that this may be true for men as well.

9. Testicular Disorders

Testicular disorder like cryptorchidism or undescended testicles, adult incidence of mumps, or surgical removal of the testicles have been tentatively linked, by ongoing research, to higher incidence of male breast cancer. This is believed to be due to the hormonal imbalance that these conditions cause.

10. Occupational Hazards

There is evidence to believe that prolonged exposure to higher temperatures such as furnaces and steel mills could impact the testicles, resulting in skewed hormone levels. Other research implicates occupations where men are exposed to high levels of gasoline fumes. With the prevalence of men using laptops that generate heat that is transmitted to the genital area, this could also be an area of concern. However, there is no conclusive evidence linking occupation and increased risk for male breast cancer.
The preventive strategies for this condition are simple and can be adopted by all men, regardless of their risk profile. Moderating or eliminating alcohol consumption can lead to significant reduction in the risk of male breast cancer. In addition, it will also contribute to overall good health at all levels, physical, mental and social. Keeping a check on your weight is another important step you can take to keep your risk for this disease low. If you already fall into a high risk category for this condition based on the points given above, ask your physician immediately to educate you on breast self-examination techniques and other alternatives available to you to ensure early detection and treatment.

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