1% of detected cases of breast cancer are men
Last reviewed: 28.11.2021
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It is generally believed that breast cancer is purely a woman's pathology, but Belgian specialists warn that a cancer can affect men, and the degree of risk is quite high - about 1% of all detected cases of breast cancer are men.
It is worth noting that the sick state does not compensate for the costs of treatment, unlike women. In Belgium, every eighth woman is diagnosed with this pathology, the level of medical care in this country is at a high level and a good set of diagnostic and treatment procedures has been developed for women, however, for male patients such measures are not provided. For this reason , breast cancer in men is detected in later stages, when the tumor is already clearly visible, in addition, sometimes men themselves overlook some symptoms indicating the development of breast cancer.
Of the detected cases of cancer, men account for 1%, but as oncologists note, for them the tumor is a big danger, as it is usually found in the late stages, when the tumor has already spread to other organs. In men, the main factor in the development of a cancer tumor is hereditary, when the members of the family have gene mutations. Breast cancer in men, as already noted, is diagnosed when the tumor has reached such a size that it can be easily seen without special equipment. In addition, men who have this pathology, are expensive treatment (compensation is provided only for women).
In men, the mammary gland is underdeveloped, because in their body a low level of female sex hormones, in particular, estrogen, which is responsible for the growth and development of the breast. For some reason, the volume of breast tissue may increase, and an additional carcinogenic effect can trigger the development of a cancer in the mammary tissues of a man.
The risk factor for breast cancer is an abnormal increase in the mammary glands in men associated with hormone imbalance (for example, when the body is losing testosterone levels or estrogen levels increase).
According to some reports, men who work in hot shops or who have undergone radiation therapy in the chest area are exposed to breast cancer development. Most often, breast cancer develops with Klinefelter's syndrome (a genetic disease in the male line, due to testosterone deficiency), Negroes and Jews.
Usually, a cancer affects men aged 60-65 years. The main symptom by which a tumor can be determined is the presence of a firm seal in the region of the mammary glands. As a rule, the tumor grows under the nipple, areola or nearby. From the nipple, bloody discharge may appear, at later stages, skin ulceration begins over the tumor. If the tumor affects adjacent lymph nodes, the latter greatly increase and become dense to the touch.
Treatment for breast cancer in men is based on the same principles and approaches as in women.