It isn’t for women only

Makena had been my patient for so long, we had become good family friends. I had delivered all her children, and was always invited to their celebrations; birthdays, baptisms and many school activities.While at their son’s school play, I struck up a conversation with Makena’s husband. He looked troubled. “Can I ask you something Doc?”

“Of course what is the matter?” The furrows on his brow deepened.

“I have noticed that my left breast feels odd.”  

“How so?” I asked.

“Well, it feels lumpy. And it has some brownish stuff from the nipple. But I am not too sure. Can you take a look?”

I gave him an appointment for the next day. True enough, he did have a lump in his right breast. Further examination showed that it was fixed to the underlying muscles, and the skin had an orange peel appearance.

I was concerned and sent him to the laboratory for a fine needle aspiration; my fears were confirmed. He had cancer of the breast.

Devastating news

I did not know how to break the news to my friends. I decided to ask more questions. He had noticed the lump six months before but did not think much of it until he saw the brown discharge.

He was devastated by the news because he’d always thought breast cancer was a disease for women!

Breast cancer forms in breast tissue. Although it was always thought to be a disease of women, it also occurs in men. It is unfortunate though that many men do not seek medical assistance promptly when they have the symptoms of breast cancer so it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to those of women. They include a painless lump, changes on the skin, like reddening or puckering or peeling, inversion of the nipple, and a discharge from the nipple.

The causes of breast cancer in men remain controversial. Men have less breast tissue than women, and this means that they are at less risk.

Prevention and detection

Men and their partners need to be very observant, and do regular breast examinations, to ensure that any abnormalities are dealt with early. Unlike in women, routine screening with mammograms and ultrasound is not done, unless the patient is at very high risk.

Prevention of breast cancer involves promotion of good health practices. These include moderate alcohol consumption, weight loss, exercise, and regular medical examinations.

.........Source Daily Nation