Special Breast Cancer Issues

Male Breast Cancer
Men do get breast cancer.  It is a rare disease, making up about 1% of all diagnoses of breast cancer in the United States.  Approximately 230,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women each year, and fewer than 2,100 in men.  The average age of diagnosis for men is 67.

The risk factors for male breast cancer are a strong family history of the disease; exposure to estrogens either through hormone treatments or through the environment; being overweight, which increases the levels of estrogen; having liver disease, which decreases the body's ability to break down estrogen; and having Klinefelter's syndrome, a genetic condition that results in men having more than one X or female chromosome.

The symptoms of male breast cancer are similar to those of women and include a change in the breast, a lump, and inverted nipple, or enlarged lymph nodes under the arm.  If a man’s breasts are both enlarged, he usually has a benign condition known as gynecomastia.  Men and their doctors rarely have occasion to think about male breast cancer, so the time lag between a man noticing a symptom and being diagnosed may not be ideal. 

Once breast cancer is suspected, the process of diagnosing and staging is similar to that for women, and includes mammography, ultrasound, and biopsy.  Treatment of male breast cancer is also similar to that for women and depends on the extent of the primary tumor and the stage of the disease.  The exception is that most men have mastectomies rather than lumpectomies because their breasts are so small.

Men with breast cancer often feel very isolated; however, support services are available for patients and their partners.  Call the Y-ME Hotline to learn more about these services and/or be matched to someone who has experienced male breast cancer.
 

Cancer and Pregnancy
Pregnant women are occasionally diagnosed with breast cancer.  This situation happens more and more often as many women delay pregnancy until their thirties or even forties, while breast cancer risk increases with age.  Being diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy is difficult and presents a number of complex medical and personal issues.  The decision-making process is complicated by the fact that the methods used to diagnose and treat breast cancer can be very harmful to the fetus.  At the same time, the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can accelerate the growth of cancer.

Any woman who has a suspicious lump or is diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy should be treated in a cancer center that has the experience and resources to address all the issues that might arise.  These resources include the oncology and obstetrics teams, as well as the psychosocial support staff who can help a woman understand her treatment options and their ramifications for both her own health and that of her baby. 

Any woman who discovers a breast lump during pregnancy should inform her doctor as soon as possible.  Breast tissue undergoes significant changes during pregnancy and lumps are common.  The overwhelming majority of changes are benign, but suspicious ones must be evaluated appropriately.  If you have a lump, don't wait until your next appointment or after your baby is born to tell your doctor.