What men need to know about breast cancer

We all know what the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and countless other professional societies recommend regarding screening and diagnosing breast cancer in women. But a subject that comes up far less frequently is what to do with men. While it is significantly lower than in women, a man’s risk is not nearly as low as we might think: one in a thousand will get breast cancer in his lifetime. As with women, everything that increases estrogen in a man puts the breast tissue he was born with at an increased risk of developing malignancy. Chemicals and pollutants, obesity, radiation — all the same reasons breast cancer is an ever-growing concern among our female patients — affect our male populations as well. However, because the lifetime risk of male breast cancer in the general population is considered low, screening is not universally recommended as it is for women. And, therefore, more men are diagnosed with breast cancer at a late stage. Men (and their doctors) can often ignore the signs that women have been constantly reminded to watch out for — such as a lump, nipple inversion, or skin changes — that may indicate invasive disease. Even if they do notice an abnormality, they tend to be embarrassed or discount it and do not seek medical attention. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Cancer Source Type: blogs