An Open Letter to Men
November 6, 2009
mgoldshine
Tags: breast cancer in men
To all the dads/brothers/sons/friends out there,
Breast cancer awareness often times is perceived only to benefit women, but men you are also at risk. Men also have breast tissue that can develop cancer. We want you to be just as informed about this deadly cancer that can affect you as well. We want you to be safe.
What are the types of breast cancer in men?
Here’s what the American Cancer Society has to say:
1 in 10 cases of breast cancer in men are Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
Cancer cells form in the breast ducts but do not invade through the walls of the ducts into the fatty tissue of the breast or spread outside the breast. It is almost always curable with surgery.
8 out of 10 cases are Infiltrating (or invasive) ductal carcinoma (IDC)
It breaks through the wall of the duct and invades the fatty tissue of the breast. At this point, it can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Infiltrating (or invasive) lobular carcinoma (ILC)
Starts in the breast lobules and invades the fatty tissue of the breast. ILC is very rare in men, accounting for only about 2% of breast cancers.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
Abnormal cells form in the lobules, but they do not invade into the fatty tissue of the breast or spread outside the breast. Although LCIS is sometimes classified as a type of non-invasive breast cancer, most breast specialists think it is a pre-cancerous condition rather than a true non-invasive cancer. It is very rare in men.
Paget disease of the nipple
Starts in the breast ducts and spreads to the nipple. It may also spread to the areola (the dark circle around the nipple). The skin of the nipple usually appears crusted, scaly, and red, with areas of itching, oozing, burning, or bleeding. It accounts for about 1% of female breast cancers and a higher percentage of male breast cancers.
For more information about breast cancer in men, check out the American Cancer Society’s page on key statistics.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_for_male_breast_cancer_28.asp?rnav=cri
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