Men's Breast Cancer Symptoms

Men's breast cancer symptoms are not as well known as those experienced by women with breast cancer. However, they are the same and early detection is key either in men or women.

Men's breast cancer symptoms are: feeling a breast mass or lump, a green or bloody nipple discharge, skin dimpling or puckering, retraction of the nipple, redness or scaling of the nipple. In addition, in extreme cases, a man can experience sudden unexplained weight loss.

When a man experiences one or more of these men's breast cancer symptoms, a doctor should check him as soon as possible. If it is cancer, the earliest it can be diagnosed the sooner you can start treatment and recovery. It increases your odds for successful results.

Men breast cancer is not as common as breast cancer in women. However, one out of one hundred cases of breast cancer occurs in men. Even though men cancer is rare, about one percent of breast cancer occurs in men. Most men who are diagnosed with breast cancer are older than sixty-five but it also occurs in younger men.

It is important to note that any breast lump in an adult male is considered abnormal and should be checked by a doctor as soon as you feel it.

Inflammatory breast cancer is a specific type of breast cancer that affects the skin of the breast. It occurs when breast cancer cells form “nests” and block the lymphatic drainage from the skin of the breast. Symptoms include redness, tenderness, and warmth. Thickening of the skin of the breast (an orange-peel appearance), sudden breast enlargement, and ridging of the skin may also be present.
A 2007 study shows that typically there is a worse prognosis for male breast cancers than female breast cancers. The prognosis for African Americans is worse than for whites.

Even the most advanced breast cancers can usually be treated. The treatment alternatives available are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and biological therapy.

Men normally wait to go to the doctor with any concerns and this delays diagnosis and possible treatment. If you catch breast cancer in an early stage, your odds for recovery are excellent. Usually even the most advanced cancers can be treated to the extent of possibly improving your quality of life and letting you live longer.