Men too are prone to breast cancer

Most people associate cases of breast cancer with women, but men, too, suffer from the disease. According to Dr Nixon Niyonzima, the laboratory director and head of research and training at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), about 2 to 3 per cent of the cancer patients are men.

“Though most men have not yet come to terms with the fact that there is breast cancer, which might be a threat to them as well, this type of cancer is actually there. We even have a patient at UCI currently,” he says.

According to Dr Noleb Mugisha, a breast cancer physiatrist at UCI, breast cancer in men is not so different from that in women, adding that most of the causes of this type of cancer are the same in both sexes.

“Though there are minimal differences between the causes of breast cancer in men and women, most of the causes are seemingly the same. As much as we encourage women to go for breast cancer testing, we also advise the men to check and know their status,” he says.

According to Dr Mugisha, everyone is born with a small amount of a breast tissue which consists of milk producing glands and ducts that carry milk to the nipples and fat.

He says though men do not develop breasts during puberty, this does not deter them from getting breast cancer since they are also born with a small amount of breast tissue which can develop breast cancer.

Dr Niyonzima says one can know that they have cancer when they get a lump or swelling, which is often (but not always) painless, a nipple retraction or when the nipple turns inwards.

He adds that an orange-peel on the skin or creasing may also indicate that one has breast cancer.
Dr Niyonzima says the redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin, discharge from the nipple may be some of the indicators for breast cancer in men.

He adds that sometimes a breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes under the arm or around the collar bone and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.

How to avoid breast cancer risks in men
Keep your weight in check
According to Dr Mugisha, maintaining a healthy weight should be an important goal for everyone. He says being overweight can increase the risk of many different cancers, including breast cancer.

Eat fruits and vegetables and avoid excessive alcohol consumption
Dr Mugisha says a healthy diet can help lower the risk of breast cancer. He says it is important to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and keep alcohol at moderate levels.

“While moderate drinking can be good for the heart in older adults, even low levels of intake can increase the risk of breast cancer. However, if you do not drink, don’t feel you need to start.
If you drink moderately, there is likely no reason to stop. But if you drink more, you should cut down or quit,” he says.

Be physically active
Dr Mugisha adds that exercise is good for the health, and men who are physically active for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. He notes that regular exercise is also one of the best ways to help keep weight in check hence avoiding the risk of catching several other types of cancer.

Don’t smoke
Dr Mugisha says smokers and non-smokers alike know how unhealthy smoking is. He adds that besides lowering quality of life and increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and at least 15 cancers, including breast cancer, smoking also causes smelly breath, bad teeth, and wrinkles.

Don’t forget screening
Dr Mugisha says it is important for men to also go for breast cancer screening. He says early screening may not prevent cancer, but it can help detect cancer early when it is most treatable.

Types of breast cancers in men

Ductal carcinoma
Dr Nixon Niyonzima says this cancer begins in the milk ducts. He observes that nearly all male breast cancer is ductal carcinoma.

Lobular carcinoma
Dr Niyonzima says this Cancer begins in the milk-producing glands. He says this type is rare in men because they have few lobules in their breast tissue but however a small percentage might get it.

Paget’s disease of the nipple and inflammatory breast cancer
These are rarer types of breast cancer but they can occur in men.