Men can get breast cancer too

 

First published in Parys Gazette on 22 October 2020.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and although it is more common among women, men can get breast cancer too. According to a report issued by the Mayo Clinic in America, one in eight women and about 2,500 men get diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

Carel-Piet van Eeden from Johannesburg is a male breast cancer survivor. I met him when I joined a private breast cancer support group on Facebook just over a year ago. His friendship and support since my diagnoses in August last year has been priceless.

Carel-Piet was diagnosed with pre-malignant breast cancer for the first time in 2011 and again in 2019. "With the first diagnosis, I felt a lump in my chest under the right nipple," he says. "I underwent a thermogram, and the doctor was not happy with the results, so he ordered a biopsy."

When his results came back positive for breast cancer, his doctor decided to remove the lump. Carel-Piet says that it was quite a challenging time because his medical aid did not want to approve his procedure "because men do not get breast cancer." The medical scheme saw the operation as cosmetic unless the tumour has been there for a minimum of one year, or has become malignant.

Genetic tests after the procedure revealed that Carel-Piet's estrogen metabolism is such that he has a predisposition for cancer. He was put on a treatment plan of anastrozole as a preventative measure and changed his lifestyle. "Of course, one becomes complacent, and if you do not notice that medicine does something tangible for you, you stop taking it over time." In 2019, he discovered another lump and once again underwent surgery to remove the tumour.

Carel-Piet's advice is "if you feel something in your chest that does not feel right – have it checked out. Men often feel shy to acknowledge that they have breast tissue. It is a part of your makeup – look after it."

According to the Mayo Clinic in America, some men obtain unusual genes from their parents that raise the risk of breast cancer. Changes in one of many genes, especially a gene called BRCA2, put you at higher risk of contracting breast and prostate cancers. If your family has a history of breast cancer, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about genetic testing.

What puts you at risk for male breast cancer? Your risk increases as you age, and exposure to estrogen-related drugs like those used for prostate cancer treatment also puts you at risk. Research further shows that individuals with Klinefelter's syndrome, liver or testicle disease, and obesity, are risk factors to take into account.

So, as we near the end of breast cancer awareness month, remember that men can get breast cancer too.