HEALTH MATTERS

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MALE BREAST CANCER

October is Breast Cancer Month. Organizations take the opportunity to celebrate woman survivors and fighters and to provide public information on breast cancer diagnosis and treatments. Information on the incidence of male breast cancer is frequently omitted from these annual discussions.

You may be thinking: Men don't have breasts, so how can they get breast cancer? The truth is that everyone, no matter what the age, has breast tissue. All breast tissue is susceptible to hormone changes that can stimulate abnormal cells in the breast tissue.

Male breast cancer is rare. In 2021, about 2,650 men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease, and an estimated one-quarter of the men diagnosed are expected to die from breast cancer. Men are rarely screened for breast cancer. As a result, breast cancer tends to be more * Richard Roundtree is a advanced in men when it is first male breast cancer survivor. detected.

Risk factors for breast in men are similar to those that can affect women. Aging, obesity, alcohol consumption, hormonal changes, and a family history of breast and other cancers are associated with the development of male breast cancer. Genetics can strongly influence the development of breast cancer in men. Men inheriting abnormal BRCA1 or BRCA2, the "breast cancer genes," have an increased risk of male breast cancer. Men with BRCA mutations can be at increased risk for other cancers, including prostate, pancreatic cancer, and certain types of skin cancer.

The presence of a hard, firm lump and or drainage from the breast should be aggressively explored by the health care provider. Lumps are often misinterpreted as calcium deposits beneath the skin. Men need to be persistent in their requests for ultrasound and mammogram tests. Delays in making a positive diagnosis occur because practitioners don't suspect their male patients have breast cancer.

Treatment protocols for male breast cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Hormonal therapy and follow-up diagnostic tests are routine for several years after the initial diagnosis of cancer. Let me introduce the following male breast cancer survivor. Bret and his mother begin the Male Breast Cancer Coalition (https:// malebreastcancercoalition.org/). I served on a panel with Bret at a symposium focusing on male breast cancer. Bret found a lump behind his nipple when he was 17 years old. He was told it was a calcium deposit and not to worry about the unusual lump.

Seven years passed. Bret finally asked another doctor about the lump in his breast. A sonogram led to a mammogram. He had a mastectomy to remove the nipple, breast tissue, and four lymph nodes. He underwent four rounds of chemotherapy.

He is celebrating ten years of being cancer-free. Bret discovered he has a BRCA gene mutation. Several members of his extended family have experienced breast and other cancers. Bret is vigilant about his health and is dedicated to bringing male breast cancer survivors together and increasing awareness of this disorder to as many individuals as possible.

The Bible tells us to be wise as serpents. Wisdom is the principal thing. Be diligent about your health. Encourage the men in your life to pay attention to their breasts. Report any abnormal findings and be persistent in receiving access to essential diagnostic tests.

Dr. Denyce Watties-Daniels

Assistant Professor at Coppin State University DWatties-Daniels@coppin.edu healthytips025@gmail.com

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