Men diagnosed with cancer are at a good chance for cure if it is detected at an early stage. The symptoms of cancer must not be ignored. A breast lump is the most common symptom. Most cases are diagnosed when the disease has reached an advanced state.

The following are some of the symptoms of it:

A lump that is painless in nature
Thickening of the breast tissue
The skin covering the breast undergoes dimpling, puckering, redness, or scaling.
Nipple may turn inward. Redness and scaling is also possible.
Discharge from the nipple

Consult a doctor if signs and symptoms persist.

The causes of cancer are not very clear. Breast cells that grow abnormally are an indicator for cancer. These cells tend to divide more quickly than healthy cells. The cells that accumulate form a tumor that may spread to a nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or other body parts.

All individuals are born with a certain amount of breast tissue. The tissue is comprised of lobules, which are milk-producing glands. The lobules are ducts that transport milk to the nipples. Women develop much more breast tissue during puberty in comparison with men. Men can develop breast cancer due to a small presence of breast tissue.

The following are the types of breast cancer in men:

1. Cancer of the milk ducts: Ductal carcinoma is the most common form of it. Almost all cancers originate in the breast ducts.
2. Cancer of the milk-producing glands: Lobular carcinoma is not a common characteristic in men as they have few lobules in the breast tissue.
3. Cancer that spreads to the nipple: In some instances, breast cancer can originate in the ducts but spread to the nipples. This can cause scaly skin around the nipple. This is also known as Paget’s disease.

Genes that increase the risk of breast cancer

In some cases, men inherit genetic mutations from their parents, which increase the risk of breast cancer. A mutation in a specific gene known as BRCA2 can increase the risk of breast and prostrate cancer. Generally, this gene helps in prevention of cancer by the production of proteins that prevent cells from growing abnormally. However, once they undergo mutation their roles change.

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.