Male Breast Cancer Treatment in Delhi, India

While breast cancer is very common among women, it can occur in men too. Men also have breast tissue that can lead to the development of breast cancer in some cases.

Associated Anatomy

Glandular and Fatty tissues in the breast area

Male Breast Cancer Causes

The causes of breast cancer in men are not yet clear. However, there are a few risk factors that can lead to male breast cells dividing at a much faster pace than normal healthy cells to form a tumor. The tumor can then spread to lymph nodes and nearby tissue. If the cancer cells get into the lymphatic or the blood system, the probability of them being carried to other parts of the body increases significantly.

Male Breast Cancer Symptoms

The signs to be noted for diagnosis of male breast cancer include:

• A swelling, thickening, or lump that is painless in the breast or surrounding tissue.
• Flaky skin or change in the color in the breast skin area.
• Changes such as puckering, dimpling or redness in the breast skin area.
• Retration of Nipple area
• Pain in the nipple / areolar complex
• Discharges coming from nipple

Male Breast Cancer Stages

The stage grouping for male breast cancer predominantly consists of the TNM system where T denotes the size of the tumor, N is the location and number of involved of nodes, and M is the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. In stages, they are classified as:

• Early Stage

  Here, cancer cells only confined to the breast tissues (Non-invasive to the invasive) where the tumor is smaller than 50mm or has not spread beyond a maximum of 3 axillary lymph nodes.

• Locally Advanced

  In the locally metastatic advanced stages, the spread of cancer can only be to the breast or axilla/ metastatic and spread to other organs, including the brain, bones, distant lymph nodes, lungs, or liver among others.

Male Breast Cancer Diagnosis

To concur, if a person has breast cancer, the typical medical tests include. History and examination, physical exam for lumps, and clinical breast exam. An x-ray called mammogram and ultrasound can also be used. Other advanced methods include MRI, blood chemistry studies, and Biopsy to prove malignancy.

Male Breast Cancer Treatment

The possible and available treatment options for men with breast cancer include:

Surgery

The process includes removing the breast and lymph nodes in Axilla.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses medicines either taken orally or in the form of injections to allow the drugs to reach cancer cells and to kill them.

Hormone Therapy

The process of treatment to block certain hormones in the body to stop growth of cancer cells to curb the spread.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses radiations such as high-energy x-rays to prevent the cancer cells from growing and killing them.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy uses antibodies and drugs in the targeted form to recognize and attack specific cancer cells. The methods include the use of Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, Monoclonal antibody therapy, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors to treat cancer.

Possible Complications of Male Breast Cancer

The possible complications depend on age, grade of disease, its stage that can lead to mortality. However, the rate is the same as that in females with breast cancer. As the risk of recurrence is high among males, long-term monitoring is imperative. The complication can arise if the cancerous cells are transported to the other parts of the body.

Risk Factors of Male Breast Cancer

The factors that may lead to male breast cancer are -

• Aging: Men in their 60s are most often diagnosed with this cancer, and the risk increases with age.
• Exposure to Hormonal Therapy: Specifically, those drugs that are related to estrogen for the treatment of other forms of cancer.
• Breast Cancer in the Family History: A familial history of breast cancer increases the probability of developing breast cancer.
• Exposure to Radiation Therapy: Men who have received an X-ray therapy to the chest can develop cancer in their breasts.
• Klinefelter's Syndrome: In males having an extra X chromosome, Klinefelter's syndrome can produce more estrogens and low androgens. This genetic syndrome can lead such males to develop breast cancer.
• High Level Of Natural Estrogen: From factors of obesity and liver disease contribute to increasing female hormones and the probability of breast cancer.

Male Breast Cancer Prevention

Primary prevention of male breast cancer is not possible. You can prevent secondary male breast cancer by keeping yourself healthy and comfortable during the treatment:

• Genetic testing if you have a family history of ovarian cancer and breast cancer; check for BRCA1 or BRCA2.
• Alteration in the eating habits and lifestyle
• Avoidance of cancer-causing things, such as alcohol, tobacco use
• Risk-reducing surgeries
• Treat any precancerous conditions.
• To avoid the recurrence of breast cancer, men can use regular screening to detect it at the earliest possible stage.

Male Breast Cancer Epidemiology

The typical characteristics associated with male breast cancer are:

• Breast cancer is predominantly found in women; male breast cancer is rare.
• The disease impacts those above the age of 60 years.
• Male breast cancer is a rare phenomenon in children and young adults.

Natural Progression of Male Breast Cancer

The natural progression of the disease is spread into the lymph nodes from where it can be carried to the other parts of the body. However, even at advanced stages, many treatment options are available that can help maintain the quality of life.

Expected Prognosis of Male Breast Cancer

The prognosis depends on the stage the disease. If the cancer is at an early stage and locally confined to the breast, the survival rate among the men is high.