Breast cancer is a rare condition among men with a reported incidence of about one percent. Nevertheless, it is thought to behave similarly in both genders.
The most common symptoms for men with breast cancer include:
If you have any of these symptoms it is important to go to your doctor straight away. Finding a cancer early gives the best chance of successful treatment.
Anything that increases the risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Different cancers have different risk factors. Having one or more of these risks factors doesn’t mean that you will definitely get breast cancer. The risk factors are similar to the risks factors for female breast cancer. They include:
Other risk factors are specific to breast cancer in men. These include having high hormone oestrogen levels and a rare condition called Klinefelter's syndrome.
Treatment for breast cancer in men is similar to the treatment for women. It may include for example surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted cancer medicines. The treatment you have depends on a number of factors. This includes:
Your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of the treatment options with you. Do ask questions so that you understand which treatments you are being offered, and why.
If you feel reluctant to talk about cancer, you are not alone. We are a small dedicated team committed to help men and their relatives and families to ensure that you have a support structure to help you.
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