Breast cancer can sometimes affect men
By Keegan Harris
If you gathered a room full of people who all had breast cancer into a room , you likely wouldn ’ t see many men . Men ’ s probability of getting breast cancer is far rarer than for women . Radiologist at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital Doctor Jennifer Smith says , because of this , detection for men can sometimes come too late .
“ Men don ’ t normally get their breast imaged unless there ’ s a problem . Male breast cancer is about 1 % of all the cancers ,” she said . “ A man has only a 1 out of 850 chance of developing breast cancer vs women ’ s 1 of 8 chance .”
Some may not even realize that men can get breast cancer but it ’ s possible . Men and women ’ s breasts are actually very similar in structure .
“ The same risk factors that apply in women apply in men ,” said Dr . Smith . “ If a man has a first-degree relative , male or female , who has breast cancer they ’ re at risk . They can have the same gene abnormalities .”
Because of the large disparity of frequency of breast cancer in men and women , it has developed a cultural stigma .
“ There are a lot of people who feel emasculated , but what people have to understand is men have the same structures in which breast cancer forms ,” said Dr . Smith .
Dr . Smith explained that when women breast feed , there are ducts in their breasts that carry the milk to the nipple . Men have the same ducts despite being vestigial . However they are shorter for men and are not as at risk to getting cancer .
“ Men feeling emasculated is completely inappropriate because men are born with the same ducts ,” said Smith . “ For a man to think it ’ s a woman ’ s disease is not accurate .” Smith said the risk factors for men and women is also the same .
“ Chest radiation at a young age could be a risk factor , and certain conditions like Hodgkin ’ s Disease , are treated with
Dr . Jennifer Smith
radiation to the chest ,” said Smith . “ What men need to watch out for is kind of what women need to watch out for , which is any change in their breast tissue . If one breast is larger then the other . If they develop a lump that they can feel . If they notice skin changes . If their nipple starts to point inward . If they have nipple discharge . Or if they have changes like scaly redness . Something that doesn ’ t go away . That ’ s
Lake Cumberland Imaging Center
when people need to go to the doctor .”
If men go to the doctor for breast cancer , they will receive a mammogram and an ultrasound depending on their age . That will determine if the man has a tumor . Dr . Smith explained that because men don ’ t typically receive imaging on their breasts , the best way to detect cancer early is for men to listen to their bodies .
Said Smith , “ That ’ s really the main message : being aware of the changes in your breasts .”
Smith passionately believes in men ’ s need to report problems early and communicate with their physicians if they see something .
“ We want to save people ’ s lives !” Smith said . “ Cancer starts out small and grows out so we really need men to not sit on it so we can detect it early .”
Smith underlined men ’ s need to talk to their doctors often and be thorough when finding a diagnosis .
“ You know when there ’ s a problem . We have to listen to our patients , because they know when there ’ s something wrong ,” said Smith . “ I really encourage patients to go to physicians they can trust . If patients are feeling like they ’ re not being listened to , they should go somewhere else .”
14 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky September 2022