Breast cancer is often thought of as a women’s issue. However, males are also at risk for developing breast cancer, and all senior men should be aware of these facts about the condition.
1. Lowered Awareness Affects the Prognosis
According to Breastcancer.org, women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetimes, while men have a one in 1,000 chance of being diagnosed. At first glance, this makes it seem like men are safer. However, the emphasis on screenings for women often means men get overlooked. When doctors don’t catch breast cancer in the early stages, men are more likely to receive a worse prognosis.
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2. Genetic Testing Is Available
It’s important for men to know their family history regarding breast cancer because it plays a role in assessing their risk. Today, it’s understood that a certain mutation of the BRCA2 gene increases a man’s likelihood of developing breast cancer. Men can also use this genetic test to assess their risk of prostate cancer.
3. The Symptoms Are Subtle in Men
For most cases of breast cancer, men may only have a small, painless lump or thickening of their breast tissue. However, most men don’t perform self-exams, and breast exams aren’t routinely performed during male physical exams. As a result, breast cancer is usually not noticed until it has had time to grow and spread.
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4. Self-Exams Should Be Performed Monthly
Women are encouraged to perform breast exams every month, but men have somehow been left out of this recommendation. However, the importance of male self-exams is now beginning to be recognized in the medical community. To perform a self-exam, a senior man should place one hand over his head and use the opposite hand to check the chest area for signs of abnormal changes. He can do this by using three fingers to press in a circular motion over the entire breast. If anything abnormal is found, it should be reported to his physician.
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