As breast cancer awareness month is in full swing, you may have noticed some of your friends or colleagues wearing a pink ribbon, the international symbol for breast cancer awareness. You may have also seen some of the numerous breast cancer awareness campaigns, urging women to self-check for lumps or any other abnormalities in their breasts.
Thankfully, breast cancer awareness has grown immensely in recent years. Most women now know the signs of breast cancer, and check their breasts regularly. This growing awareness is due in part to the many campaigns organised by different breast cancer charities.
However, were you aware that men can also get breast cancer? Unfortunately, there is little awareness among men that we can also be affected by this disease.
I was completely unaware that men can suffer from breast cancer, and I know that not many of my male friends would have been aware of this condition either. It’s no surprise really, as the incidence rate among men is so much lower. According to Cancer Research UK, about 350 males are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year. In comparison, approximately 55,000 women are diagnosed with the disease in the same time frame. However, just like breast cancer in women, male breast cancer needs to be caught as quickly as possible. The quicker it is caught, the better the long-term outlook is for the patient.
What is male breast cancer?
So, what exactly is male breast cancer? How can men get breast cancer if they don’t have breasts? Well, as renowned breast surgeon Mr Kislaya Kumar Thakur explains in this article, “male breast cancer is cancer of the male breast glandular tissue (yes, men have breast tissue too!)”.
One of the most common risk factors is a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, so if you have family members who have had these cancers in the past, you must be extra aware of the risk. Male breast cancer is also more common in men who have undergone operations for undescended testicles or have suffered testicle damage, or men who have been given therapeutic oestrogens as a treatment for prostate cancer. Transgender people who have undergone oestrogen therapies are also more at risk.
The most common symptoms are lumps or swellings in the breast area, or a lump in the armpit. If you notice any changes in the nipple area, such as nipple retraction, or a clear or bloody discharge, you should also speak to a doctor as this is the second most common symptom.
Raising awareness of male breast cancer
Unsurprisingly, it often comes as quite a shock to men when they are diagnosed with breast cancer. As Mark James put it when speaking to the BBC, “breast” is not a word men use when speaking about their own bodies. Mark is a former Army reservist who also had no idea that men could get breast cancer until he was diagnosed with it himself.
Some men are even quite embarrassed by this diagnosis. Breast cancer has long been associated with the colour pink, with people wearing pink ribbons and clothes during breast cancer awareness month to show their support. For some men, the idea that they could have breast cancer means that they’re somehow not a man.
To combat the idea of men being unable to have breast cancer, some cancer charities have started new, inclusive campaigns to raise awareness of this possibility. One such campaign is organised by the charities Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!, who have partnered with ASDA in their annual Tickled Pink campaign that takes place every October.
This year, seven people have posed topless as part of the campaign, and shared their experience with breast cancer, including Dave, a retired policeman from Bristol. Dave spoke to the BBC about this campaign, and explained that he is proud of “taking part in a campaign that is promoting everyone – regardless of gender – to self-check.” Like so many men diagnosed with breast cancer, Dave was completely unaware that men should self-check for signs of breast cancer.
Hopefully, with these new, more inclusive campaigns highlighting the fact that men can get breast cancer, more men will set their embarrassment aside, self-check their chests and speak to a doctor if they notice anything unusual.
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