Male Breast Cancer

Male Breast Cancer

Augustine Samuels, MA

M. Awad MD

Smashwords Edition

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Copyright 2011 Augustine Samuels MA, M. Awad MD.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

One: What is male breast cancer?

Two: What causes male breast cancer?

Three: Common symptoms and signs

Four: Preparing for your appointment:

Five: Diagnosis

Six: Staging of breast cancer

Seven: Treatment of male breast cancer

Eight: Mastectomy

Nine: Recovery and survival

Ten: Mammography

Eleven: Needle Aspiration Biopsy

Glossary of Medical Terms:

Appendix A: Internet Resources / Further Reading

One: What is male breast cancer?

Breast cancer isn’t just a disease for women; men have a small cluster of breast tissues in their chest. These tissues are situated directly behind the nipple on the chest wall. Unlike women, these breast tissues are inactive and cannot produce milk. But these breast tissues may start an abnormal growth, a problem much more common among women. Such a growth can cause breast cancer.

Both males and females are born with breast tissues. These tissues contain ducts which are tube-like structures. When a girl hits puberty, the body starts producing the estrogen hormone. This results in the growth of these ducts and develops the milk glands which are situated at the end of these ducts. This also causes an increase in the amount of fats and tissues in a girl’s breast and so develops her breasts into their adult shape.

On the other hand, when a boy hits puberty, the body starts producing testosterone. This hormone suppresses the growth of the ducts in breast tissues. As a result, boys don’t have developed ducts and have little amount of fat on their breasts.

Breast cancer in men is extremely rare. About only 1% of men suffer from this condition. In comparison, women have a 100 times greater risk of getting a breast cancer than men and this condition is relatively common. In males, breast cancer usually occurs when they reach the age bracket of 60 – 70 years. But it may occur at any age.

Types of male breast cancer:

•Infiltrating ductal carcinoma: This is the most common type of breast cancer among men. In this type, the cancer cells originate from the ducts in the breasts. They then spread to other tissues that surround these ducts.

•Ductal carcinoma: In this type of breast cancer, the malignant cells grow in the ducts. But they don’t spread to other tissues around the ducts.

•Cystosarcoma phyllodes: In this type of breast cancer, the cancer starts in the connective tissues which are present around the ducts.

•Paget’s disease of the breast: A cancer involving the skin of the nipple.

•Papillary carcinoma: A rare, invasive type of breast cancer.

•Inflammatory