X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parenting & Play by Friso
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-schooler
    • Kids
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Not Just Women: What You May Not Know About Breast Cancer in Men

3 min read
Not Just Women: What You May Not Know About Breast Cancer in MenNot Just Women: What You May Not Know About Breast Cancer in Men

Two-thirds of males with breast cancer are found to have a hereditary cancer gene and usually have a strong family history of breast cancer.

Every October marks breast cancer awareness month. And with almost one in 13 women likely to get breast cancer, according to Singapore Cancer Society, much emphasis is usually given to encourage women, especially those who are older to go for regular mammograms to detect the possibility of breast cancer.

But breast cancer is not exclusive to women only; men can get it too.

According to Dr Tan Chuan Chien, head, division of breast and endocrine surgery at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, “breast cancer in men accounts for about one per cent of all diagnosed breast cancer patients”.

Breast Cancer In Men

Breast Cancer in Men

Image source: iStock

While only five to 10 per cent of breast cancer in women can be attributed to genes, up to two-thirds of males with breast cancer are found to have a hereditary cancer gene and usually have a strong family history of breast cancer, says Mount Elizabeth Hospital breast surgeon, Dr Tan Yah Yuen.

Male breast cancer tends to be diagnosed at a later stage of the disease, where the tumour size is larger and cancer has potentially spread to the lymph nodes and distant organs by the time it is discovered, he adds.

Like in women, breast cancer tends to develop in the later years in life for men.

“Essentially cancer develops due to mutation in breast cells, and such mutations are more common as a person grows older,” says Dr Tan Yah Yuen.

“Also, the natural defences of a person to fight abnormal cells decreases as a person ages, especially when there are also other premorbid co-existing diseases,” adds Dr Tan Chuan Chien.

The symptoms are also similar in both sexes — a lump that can be felt in the breast, abnormal bloody nipple discharge or nipple retraction. For Dr Tan Chuan Chien, most of the male breast cancer patients he has treated had a breast lump in the retroareolar region, behind the nipple.

“However, because there is usually not much breast tissue in men, there is a tendency for the tumour to have infiltrated to the chest wall or even skin before it is discovered, especially since men are often not on the active lookout for breast symptoms,” says Dr Tan Yah Yuen.

“Hence, men are also more likely to have skin changes from the tumour, such as puckering of overlying skin.”

Treatment and recovery options

Not Just Women: What You May Not Know About Breast Cancer in Men

Image source: iStock

Treatment options don’t vary between men and women, and whether surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or endocrine therapy is advised is dependent on the stage of cancer. However, “surgeons tend to recommend removal of the entire breast (mastectomy) for men as preservation of breasts is not usually an issue for men,” shares Dr Tan Chuan Chien.

The nipple is also always completely removed during surgery for men, adds Dr Tan Yah Yuen. Men are also more likely to be somewhat embarrassed by the removal of their breast, rather than feel upset about losing their breast compared to women, he adds.

And while men seem to have a “lower unadjusted rate of overall survival than women with breast cancer”, this is primarily due to the “later advanced stage of presentation for men as compared to women”, shares Dr Tan Chuan Chien.

This article was first published in AsiaOne and republished on theAsianparent with permission.

ALSO READ:

37-year-old Mum Of 2 With Breast Cancer: ‘It Matters To Me That My Husband Has A Set Of Breasts For Him’

She’s 28, Had a Double Mastectomy to Remove Her Breasts Because of Cancer and Hid It From Her Mum

https://t.me/theAsianparentSG

Partner Stories
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Is the Spice in Your Life Taking a Toll on Your Tummy?
Is the Spice in Your Life Taking a Toll on Your Tummy?
Read This Before You Enjoy the Satisfaction of Cracking Your Joints!
Read This Before You Enjoy the Satisfaction of Cracking Your Joints!
Pregnancy 101: 6 Types of Pains and Ways to Manage Them
Pregnancy 101: 6 Types of Pains and Ways to Manage Them

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

asiaone

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • Not Just Women: What You May Not Know About Breast Cancer in Men
Share:
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How To Care For Your Breast Health

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How To Care For Your Breast Health

  • Can Men Get Breast Cancer

    Can Men Get Breast Cancer

  • Singapore Dad Shares How a Rare Disease Left His Children Bedridden and Tube-fed

    Singapore Dad Shares How a Rare Disease Left His Children Bedridden and Tube-fed

  • Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

    Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

app info
get app banner
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How To Care For Your Breast Health

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How To Care For Your Breast Health

  • Can Men Get Breast Cancer

    Can Men Get Breast Cancer

  • Singapore Dad Shares How a Rare Disease Left His Children Bedridden and Tube-fed

    Singapore Dad Shares How a Rare Disease Left His Children Bedridden and Tube-fed

  • Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

    Why it's getting harder to keep baby safe in this world

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.