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.

With the newly published public health white paper indicating a radical overhaul in the way healthcare is managed and financed, it is clear that the roles of both private healthcare providers and healthcare recruitment agencies are likely to change significantly in the next five years. With the future of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) now terminal, and power being decentralised instead into the hands of local authorities and GPs, the public health sector could potentially see a surge in demand for outsourced private skills and flexible staffing solutions, particularly as healthcare providers enter into a process of adjustment to accommodate the demands of the new system.

It is understood that the current administration is determined to usher in a paradigm shift away from the waiting time target-driven healthcare culture of recent years towards a system that places more priority on clinical effectiveness and patient feedback. The government says that the emphasis is to be placed firmly on streamlining and this, in turn, means healthcare providers striving to recruit the very best doctors and nurses for both temporary and permanent roles. Healthcare recruitment agencies that are able to accommodate the needs of this changing system and work effectively alongside it will stand to benefit. In addition, the GP-led structure will require specialist skills and the recruitment of those with the most in-depth knowledge of the sector.

Ultimately, the planned cuts to NHS management in order to reduce the existing multi-million pound healthcare debt burden are designed to gear the system into putting more resources into front-line staffing. It is perceived that the number of people employed by the NHS will be substantially fewer in the coming years but the clear aim is to create an efficient and consistent service in which patient care is paramount. In terms of healthcare recruitment, this means an increased drive towards sourcing the best possible candidates for short-term and long-term positions while continuing to offer flexible, case-specific solutions that the new GP-led structure can depend on when necessary.