When treated early, the prognosis for breast cancer in men is good. Male breast cancer is often not diagnosed until it has spread, though, making treatment more difficult. The American Cancer Society estimates that 2,800 new cases will be diagnosed in 2025.
Seniors in Hanford, CA facing a cancer diagnosis have access to quality health care with even more options in neighboring Fresno.
Learn more about breast cancer in men and the treatments available for older adults in Hanford.
The first symptom of breast cancer in men is often a lump in one of your breasts. Breast cancer lumps are usually firm but painless, and they often appear behind the nipple. Other symptoms of male breast cancer include:
Health concerns can be a source of stress and anxiety. One of the most important senior health tips is to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that are concerning to you or your family.
The three most common tests for diagnosing breast cancer in men are:
During a breast exam, your doctor will feel each breast and the surrounding areas to check for unusual growths. If your doctor notices something that may be a concern, they will request imaging.
Imaging lets your doctor see the breast tissue. Your doctor may ask you to have a mammogram (breast X-ray), an ultrasound, or an MRI.
If the imaging shows areas that could be cancerous, your doctor will probably order a biopsy. Biopsies remove a small sample of cells for analysis in a lab.
If you receive a breast cancer diagnosis, your doctor will tell you how far the cancer has spread. This is called the cancer stage. Stages of breast cancer range from zero to four.
At stage 0, cancer cells are limited to the breast ducts. By stage 4, cancer cells have moved into other areas of your body.
The most common type of breast cancer in men starts in the milk ducts. Most breast cancer cells in men grow in response to progesterone or estrogen.
Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes that connect to the nipple. Invasive ductal carcinoma spreads to other parts of your breast. This accounts for the majority of breast cancer in men.
If the cancer doesn't spread beyond the milk ducts, it's called ductal carcinoma in situ. This type of cancer is less common.
Lobular carcinoma starts in your breast lobules. Lobules are the glands that produce milk. Men don't have many of these glands, so lobular carcinoma is relatively rare.
Inflammatory breast cancer can be mistaken for a breast infection. The cancer grows quickly and blocks lymph vessels in the skin of your breast, causing swelling and redness.
Paget's disease is a rare form of breast cancer that develops under the nipple and areola. The skin of the nipple can itch, swell, thicken, or become red.
Treatment for male breast cancer depends on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Cancer is most treatable when you find it in the early stages.
Most treatment plans for breast cancer in men start with surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove the cancerous cells. The most common types of surgery for breast cancer are:
You can typically get back to your regular activities in three to four weeks.
Radiation therapy uses X-rays, protons, or another source of energy to kill cancer cells. If you have a lumpectomy, your doctor will most likely recommend radiation. This helps ensure that no cancer cells survive.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The medicine can be injected or taken orally.
Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy after surgery; chemotherapy can also treat cancer that has spread to other areas of the body.
Targeted therapy uses medicine to prevent certain types of cancer cells from growing. It can be used after surgery or if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Most breast cancer cells in men need hormones to grow. Hormone therapy helps block the effect of hormones on cancer cells.
Survival rate statistics can give you an idea of how likely it is that your treatment will be successful. However, these statistics can't predict what will happen in any individual person's situation.
According to the American Cancer Society, men whose breast cancer hasn't spread to other parts of the body have a five-year relative survival rate of 97%. If the cancer has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes, the survival rate is 86%. The survival rate is 31% when cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.
A strong connection exists between men's health and aging. A breast cancer diagnosis is most common for men after age 50, making breast cancer awareness for older adults especially vital. The average age ranges from 64 to 71, depending on which study you consult.
Breast cancer in men is a rare but serious risk. Breast cancer education can help you recognize the signs before the cancer spreads. Treatment is usually successful when breast cancer is identified early.
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