Breast Cancer & African-American Men

Saw this article over on Blackdr.org and thought I would share.

(BlackDoctor.org) – In 1993, Richard Roundtree, better known as John Shaft in the iconic 1971 African American film "Shaft,” was diagnosed with breast cancer. While in the shower one morning, getting ready for work, Roundtree felt a lump in his chest underneath his nipple and began to worry. After visiting his doctor he was diagnosed with the rare male disease and would then undergo a radical mastectomy and months of grueling chemotherapy treatments, all while hiding his condition from the public.

Breast cancer is most commonly thought of as a woman's disease, but male breast cancer does occur. It comprises only 1 percent of all breast cancer cases -- not a surprising figure, since men's bodies contain only about 1 percent of the breast tissue found in women. In 2007, there will be about 2,000 men diagnosed with breast cancer, compared with 178,000 women identified with the disease.

The cancer forms in the breast tissue of men, and is most common in older men, though male breast cancer can occur at any age. Men diagnosed at an early stage have a good chance for a cure. Still, many men delay seeing their doctors if they notice unusual signs or symptoms, such as a breast lump. For this reason, many male breast cancers are diagnosed when the disease is more advanced. Like breast cancer in women, treatment depends upon the stage of the cancer and the overall physical condition of the patient. The most common initial treatment is surgery -- a modified radical mastectomy (removal of the breast, lining over the chest muscles, and portions of the axillary lymph nodes) -- and sometimes portions of the muscles of the chest wall are also removed.

Following are the symptoms and risks associated with the disease:

Signs and symptoms of male breast cancer

• A painless lump or thickening in the breast tissue
• Changes to the skin covering your breast, such as dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling
• Changes to your nipple, such as redness, scaling or a nipple that turns inward
• Discharge from your nipple

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you. It's not clear what causes male breast cancer. Doctors know that male breast cancer occurs when some breast cells begin growing abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do. The accumulating cells form a tumor that may spread (metastasize) to nearby tissue, to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.

Where breast cancer begins in men

Everyone is born with a small amount of breast tissue. Breast tissue is made up of milk-producing glands called lobules, ducts that carry milk to the nipples and fat. Women begin developing more breast tissue during puberty and men do not. Because they are born with a small amount of breast tissue, men can develop breast cancer.

Types of breast cancer diagnosed in men

• Cancer that begins in the milk ducts. Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of male breast cancer. Nearly all male breast cancers begin in the breast ducts.
• Cancer that begins in the milk-producing glands. Lobular carcinoma is rare in men because men have few lobules in their breast tissue.
• Cancer that spreads to the nipple. In some cases, breast cancer can form in the breast ducts and spread to the nipple, causing crusty, scaly skin around the nipple. This is called Paget's disease of the nipple.

Inherited genes that increase breast cancer risk

Some men inherit mutated genes from their parents that increase the risk of breast cancer. Mutations in one of several genes, especially a gene called BRCA2, put you at greater risk of developing breast and prostate cancers. Usually these genes help prevent cancer by making proteins that keep cells from growing abnormally. But if they have a mutation, the genes aren't as effective at protecting you from cancer.
Meeting with a genetic counselor and undergoing genetic testing can determine whether you carry gene mutations that increase your risk of breast cancer. Discuss the benefits and risks of genetic testing with your doctor.

Risk factors that increase the risk of male breast cancer

• Older age. Breast cancer is most common in men age 60 to 70.
• Excessive use of alcohol. If you drink heavy amounts of alcohol, you have a greater risk of breast cancer.
• Exposure to estrogen. If you take estrogen-related drugs, such as those used as part of a sex change procedure, your risk of breast cancer is increased. Estrogen drugs may also be used in hormone therapy for prostate cancer.
• Family history of breast cancer. If you have a close family member with breast cancer, you have a greater chance of developing the disease.
• Klinefelter's syndrome. This genetic syndrome occurs when a boy is born with more than one copy of the X chromosome. Klinefelter's syndrome causes abnormal development of the testicles. As a result, men with this syndrome produce lower levels of certain male hormones — androgens — and more female hormones — estrogens.
• Liver disease. If you have liver disease, such as cirrhosis of the liver, your body's male hormones may be reduced and its female hormones may be increased. This can increase your risk of breast cancer.
• Obesity. Obesity may be a risk factor for breast cancer in men, because it increases the number of fat cells in the body. Fat cells convert androgens into estrogen, which may increase the amount of estrogen in your body and, therefore, your risk of breast cancer.
• Radiation exposure. If you've received radiation treatments to your chest, such as those used to treat cancers in the chest, you're more likely to develop breast cancer later in life.

By Felicia Vance, BDO Staff Writer