Breast Cancer Awareness for Women and Men

Breast cancer awareness is a key component of early detection efforts. It is essential that women know the most common symptoms associated with breast cancer, such as lumps and thickenings, and understand that prompt evaluation and early detection improves outcome.

While breast cancer is typically associated with women, it's important to remind men that they too can be affected by this disease. And I speak from personal experience. It's a fact that one out of every 100 breast cancer cases is diagnosed in a man. It's crucial to understand your family's history of breast cancer because inherited gene mutations that increase the risk can be passed down from both parents.
Male breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. Breast cancer may occur in men at any age, but it usually occurs in men between 60 and 70 years of age. Keep it on your  mind even, as already mentioned M ale breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer.

The most common types of breast cancer in men includes Invasive ductal carcinoma, where cancer cells start in the ducts and grow into other areas of breast tissue, potentially spreading to other body parts. Another is Ductal carcinoma in situ, a condition that might lead to invasive breast cancer, where the cancer cells are only in the duct lining and haven't spread to other breast tissues.

Typical symptoms of breast cancer in men include a lump or swelling in the breast, red or flaky skin, irritation or dimpling of the breast skin, nipple discharge, and retracting or painful nipples. These signs might also indicate non-cancerous conditions, so if you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to get checked by a doctor immediately.

Risk factors that can raise a man's likelihood of getting breast cancer include aging, with most cases being diagnosed after age 50, genetic mutations, family history of breast cancer, past radiation therapy to the chest, and liver diseases.

The treatment for breast cancer in men relies on the size of the tumor and how much it has spread. Possible treatments could involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. And keep in mind it might be as well benign tumor or even just lumps in the breast which can be easily treated and therapized.

So - Ladies and Gentlemen - There is no reason to not go to a Breast Cancer Screening - if you or your partner feel something or worry about something

The most common tests to detect breast cancer are quite easy - it can be a screening mammograms and clinical breast exams - but don't have to. Screening tests are used to find breast cancer in a person without warning signs or symptoms.
Check yourself, check your partner - and learn more about breast cancer at National Breast Cancer Foundation - here you will find mainly information for women but it is similar for men and LGBTQ+