Most people believe that breast cancer only affects women; this is because most men are not aware that they are also at risk of getting the disease. You may find it interesting to learn that men have a minute amount of non-functioning breast tissue. Even though this minute amount of breast tissue cannot generate milk, or serve any purpose, it is susceptible to a mutation of the cells that can lead to male breast cancer.

These tissues are located in the area specifically behind the nipple that is present on the chest. Similar to breast cancer in women, male breast cancer occurs due to the unrestrained increase in the cells of the breast tissue. There are tubular structures or ducts in the breast tissue of both girls as well as boys. During the time of puberty, ovaries present in the girl generate female hormones called estrogen. This causes the ducts to expand and the milk glands are developed at the ends of these ducts. The quantity of fat as well as connective tissue inside the breast also enlarges as the girl attains puberty.

But at the same time, male hormones like testosterone, which are produced by the testes, prevent the development of the breast tissue as well as the growth of lobules. This results in under developed ducts in the male breast of which only contain a minute quantity of fat along with connective tissues. Male breast cancer is found most often in men between the ages of 55 and 70. However the disease can also appear in men at any age.

Men are far less in danger of developing breast cancer and in fact only approximately one in every thousand men ever do. The reason why men may develop male breast cancer is greatly in question. But researchers show that it can be genetic or inherited aspects as well as an environmental issues that are likely to play a part in its growth.

Studies have shown that people who become exposed to ionizing waves are at greater. People who have in the past undergone therapy using radiation in order to take care of malignancies found in the chest area like Hodgkin’s lymphoma are at a risk for the growth of breast cancer. Lymphoma is a kind of cancer that involves the cells related to the immune system which are called lymphocytes.

Breast cancer also affects men and it is important that men be equipped with the right information about this disease. Having access to information can help men prevent, detect and seek treatment for male breast cancer, which is as deadly as breast cancer in women.If any breast cancer symptoms are detected, then call the doctor and make an appointment as soon as possible.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women if the relatively less aggressive skin cancer is excluded from counting. Breast cancer accounts for about 32 percent of all cancer diagnosed in women. Although there is no known cure for breast cancer, if it is caught early, it can be treated. The treatments that a patient can undergo are designed to chase the tumor into remission. Therefore, with this hope in mind, it is important that a malignant tumor be caught in its early stage.

There are numerous types of cancer. Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs is carcinoma. Leukemia is a form of cancer that begins in blood forming tissue such as bone marrow and will cause a large number of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood stream. Multiple myeloma and lymphoma cancers start in the cells of the immune system. Cancer that begins in the bone, cartilage, fat, blood vessels, or muscle is sarcoma. Common symptoms of breast cancer include a change in how the breast or nipple feels and a change in how the breast or nipple looks.

In addition to this, changes in the shape and appearance of the breast is also suspicious to breast cancer. Before the arrival of X-ray of the breast (mammography) breast cancer is mostly discovered as not showing the evidence of the disease before the symptom comes to existence, which means that the X-ray helps a lot to detect this deadly disease earlier. Changes in how the nipple or breast looks may be the nipple turning inward into the breast. Another change could be a different shape or size of breast. Still other changes that might occur in the breast, nipple, or areola may be red, scaly or swollen skin.

Still, another sign that there could be breast cancer is a nipple discharge. The nipple may discharge a fluid if there is breast cancer. In early stages breast cancer usually does not cause pain. If a woman is having pain or other symptoms that do not go away she should see her health care provider. It is likely the symptoms are not due to breast cancer. Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. If a woman does have these symptoms she should tell her doctor. Any problems that might exist can be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

What kind of a question is that? Well, are you honest enough to admit that you have thought about it? Honest enough to admit that in the scheme of things you may even have thought how unfair it was that you got breast cancer? I blame God for a lot of things in my life, and I praise him for many more, but I never blamed him for breast cancer. Honestly. I have been a little angry at God though, like Jonah in the Old Testament, but then I remember that Jonah also ended up in the belly of a whale and I think it may be a better idea to get over it. My anger has been more like a sense of injustice, which includes more than just breast cancer. I get to feeling like I shouldn’t have to bear such adversity. So there is my real sin; who am I to think that I should be above trials? In fact, my bible tells me that God disciplines those who are his true children. So I guess my trials and tribulations are warranted.

Too much preaching you might think. Well, I have never hid my faith from anyone. I don’t share it as often as I should, but neither do I deny it. In my anatomy class last semester, a young woman shared how her uncle was in and out of the hospital with cancer and every time he was in the hospital he found God, but quickly lost him when he felt better. I don’t want to ever be like that. I know that God heard me when I cried out to him after being diagnosed with cancer, and I know he saw me through it.

I don’t believe God gave me cancer, but he allowed it to come into my life. So even though I have my moments when I feel it may be unfair, I have many more when I am grateful that he gave me the opportunity to strengthen my faith.