Gynecomastia and Male Breast Cancer
Every once in a while, a male breast reduction patient comes in, wondering if the enlarged or fatty condition of his breasts have anything to do with male breast cancer.
Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, there is publicity everywhere about the need for women to keep current with breast exams and finding a cure for the dreaded female version of breast cancer.
Even pro football teams are wearing pink shoes to help everybody keep breast cancer awareness foremost in mind.
Statistics show that, for every 100 cases of female breast cancer, one strikes a male.
Despite the long odds, I’m vigilant about it when diagnosing new patients although I haven’t seen a case in my practice yet.
The patients who are concerned about it are relieved when I tell them having gynecomastia does not make a teen or man any more predisposed to male breast cancer.
One thing of interest, I have noted, though, is that after a male breast cancer patient has been treated, they often are found to have the BRCA1 gene – the very same one that women are so on guard about. Usually, there is some family component to a male having the gene.
The red warning flags for male breast cancer would be a man who:
- Is over 40
- Has breast growth only on one side
- Experiences breast pain or tenderness
- Has any type of discharge from the nipple
- Notices retraction of the nipple
- Observes changes in the appearance of his skin
Serious changes include fine skin dimpling like on an orange rind.
An experienced gynecomastia surgeon can usually tell the difference between a male who is a candidate for male breast reduction and actual breast cancer.
However, if he isn’t sure, the thing to do is arrange for a biopsy of some tissue of the affected area.
Just as in female cases, the earlier the condition is diagnosed and treated, the better things work out in the long run.
Consider the example of Peter Criss, the original drummer for the rock band, KISS. He was diagnosed and treated in ’08 and says he is cancer-free today, thanks to early diagnosis.
It’s worth mentioning because I have observed quite a few 18-year-olds who are all up in arms about having breast cancer when they are actually afflicted with run-of-the-mill gynecomastia.