Study: Men with breast cancer fare worse than women

[question everything]

(snip)

The study found that men's breast tumors were larger at diagnosis, more advanced and more likely to have spread to other parts of the body. Men were also diagnosed later in life; in the study, they were 63 on average, versus 59 for women. Many men have no idea that they can get breast cancer, and some doctors are in the dark, too, dismissing symptoms that would be an automatic red flag in women, said study leader Dr. Jon Greif, a breast cancer surgeon in Oakland, Calif. The American Cancer Society estimates 1 in 1,000 men will get breast cancer, versus 1 in 8 women. By comparison, 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men.

(snip)

The researchers analyzed 10 years of national data on breast cancer cases, from 1998 to 2007. A total of 13,457 male patients diagnosed during those years were included, versus 1.4 million women. The database contains about 75 percent of all U.S. breast cancer cases. The men who were studied lived an average of about eight years after being diagnosed, compared with more than 10 years for women. The study doesn't indicate whether patients died of breast cancer or something else.

(snip)

Some doctors said one finding in the study suggests men's breast tumors might be biologically different from women's: Men with early-stage disease had worse survival rates than women with early-stage cancer. But men's older age at diagnosis also might explain that result, Greif said. The causes of breast cancer in men are not well-studied, but some of the same things that increase women's chances for developing it also affect men, including older age, cancer-linked gene mutations, a family history of the disease, and heavy drinking.

(snip)

Men's breast cancer usually shows up as a lump under or near a nipple. Nipple discharge and breasts that are misshapen or don't match are also possible signs that should be checked out.

More..

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/47299995/ns/health-cancer/#.UQgKMejlXS0

[question everything]

1. Only mastectomy

In contrast to women treatment - see a separate thread - men get only mastectomy. There really not much tissue to try to preserve the breast and to irradiate it.

But otherwise, samples from the tumor are being sent to Oncotype? (not sure of the name) to see if there are enough markers there to suggest that chemotherapy can be beneficial. And men's tumor also is checked for the presence of estrogen, progesteron and HER2 receptors.

If estrogen and progesteron receptors are there, like women, they will take Tamoxifen - that blocks estrogen receptors - for five years.

[Asas45]

2. New member

Hi Guys
Actually I can not understand something this topic.Please write details.

Thanks

[question everything]

4. What don't you understand?

I am not a physician but do know one man who is breast cancer survivor.

[sarva]

3. re:breast cancer

Useful info was shared by you.Is there any good way to prevent it?

[question everything]

5. Sadly, no. I think that the only two cancers that can actually be prevented

are small cell lung cancer - by not smoking; and skin cancer - by avoiding the sun and using sun screens.

But early detection is helpful, especially with colon and cervical cancers. There are different opinions about PSA and mammography as early detection of prostate and breast cancers but my personal opinion - not being a physician but knowing that some lives have been saved - is to undergo them.