Breast cancer spreads faster in men than women, affects older men more –Physicians

 

Breast cancer in men. Image source: Activeman.

Amarachi Okeh

Breast cancer in men is not as common as it is in women, it, however, spreads faster in men, health experts have said.

The experts also warned that despite the wide gap in the occurrence of breast cancer in men compared to women, men should also be alert to the health condition because it spreads faster in men.

They, however, noted that the condition is seen more among older men than young men.

Professors Abiodun Afolayan and Emmanuel Ezeome, noted that there is no difference in the pathology of breast cancer in men and women.

They noted that just as women check their breasts for lumps, men, especially those from the age of 50 and above should also be alert to lumps in their breast and should ensure it is properly examined as soon as they notice it.

The experts, however, noted that though breast cancer in men is not common, it is more ravenous and does not depend on the size of the man’s breast.

Speaking with our correspondent, Afolayan, who is a Professor of Pathology in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, noted that there is a very wide gap in the occurrences of breast cancer in men compared to women, but stressed that in spite of the rarity of the cases in men, he has seen few cases of it.

 “When you compare the ratio of breast cancer in males and females, it is very wide.

“I’m not very sure now but it’s about 1 to 100. I think it’s even more than that. So, when we talk about breast cancer, it is several hundred times more common in women than men.

“That is why when we are talking about breast cancer, we make it clear that it also occurs in men so when men see lumps in their breast, they should not think it is a boil. They should seek medical attention,” he said.

He also pointed out that the size of the man’s breast does not matter. “If you see a patient with breast cancer, you’d still see the breast so flat so it is not because their breast is more voluminous than the average man’s breast, no,” he said.

He noted that breast cancer in men has the same features as breast cancer in women. Pointing out that if a man does not present early and cancer spreads, the man’s breast may have to be cut off.

On his part, Ezeome, who is a Professor of Surgery, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, stated that breast cancer in men tends to eat through the body walls faster than in women.

He also pointed to the fact that due to the less occurrence of breast cancer in men, there are more drugs targeted at the treatment for breast cancer in men than there are for men.

“Men have less protruding breast so the breast cancer tends to eat through the breast fast and get to the body wall.

“But because females have a larger breast, they develop it more but when they develop it, it takes longer time to get to the other surrounding tissues but in men, it easily eats through the breast tissue,” he said.

Speaking on the treatment for breast cancer in men, Ezeome, who is also a Consultant Surgeon and the Director of the Oncology Centre, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, said the treatment for most men with breast cancer is breast removal.

According to Afolayan and Ezeome, male breast cancer is mostly seen in older men, usually from age 50 and above.

The experts warned that the best way to manage breast cancer in men is through early detection.

Ezeome speaking said, “If men notice any change in their breast, they should see a doctor.

“Principally, when there’s a lump or swelling in the breast which is what usually indicates male breast cancer, they should seek help.”

In addition to this, Afolayan said, “Early diagnosis is the best, that is what we are always advocating if the patient wants to escape the sledgehammer of death from breast cancer.

“Early presentation, when it is very small and has not moved from that site but when they present late, the hope of surviving it is very thin.

“The patient can only enjoy palliative care and is given medication for pain relief. Palliative care is just to enable them to enjoy life a little. It is not easy to be alive with pain.

“That’s why I always say that just like in women, the moment men notice a lump, especially painless lump, they should see a physician.

“They can just be checking the breast from time to time. Once they notice a small lump they should go and report.

“Don’t wait, don’t say ‘it’s a boil’, you’d buy antibiotics and drugs from the chemist. No, it normally presents with a painless small lump in the breast and from there it continues to ulcerate.”