By Betty Luke
Breast cancer in men is often an overlooked illness as majority associate the disease with females.
However, experts say though it is a rare condition making up less than one percent of all breast cancer cases, it is a serious issue that needs attention, akin to female breast cancer.
Mr Bethwel Nyangweso, a Kisii County resident, noticed a lump on his breast early last year only to months later, after seeking treatment at a healthcare facility in Nairobi, be diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.
“At first I thought it was just a normal swelling that can be occasioned by a mosquitoe bite or something else. I never imagined a man can suffer breast cancer,” he recently shared with NTV.
Mr Nyangweso sought treatment after the lump became painful.
Breast cancer in men originates from breast tissues such as the ducts and the milk-producing glands which experts say everyone is born with.
The symptoms include those portrayed by women and include a lump, thickening of the breast tissues, change in shape of the breast or the nipple, a swollen lymp nodes in the armpit area among others.
For men under 25 years presenting with a breast lump, an ultrasound is recommended as the first step to diagnosis and subsequent treatment while a mammogram is done to detect breast cancer in men over 25 years.
A recent study by The Aga Khan University Hospital’s Department of Surgery, the treatment for male breast cancer is informed by studies of the female breast cancer treatment.
The study, titled Characteristics and Treatment of Breast Cancer in Men, notes that although the exact cause of this type of cancer remains unknown, it starts to develop due to formation of tumours caused by an abnormal DNA changes by the breast tissues.
Although October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness globally, little effort is put to raise awareness of the disease among men, many of whom show up at hospitals for diagnosis at a late stage.
Oncologists advise self examination to detect any abnormal growth that could lead to cancer not only in men but women.
Breast examination is best done while at the shower. It is advisable to do on specific dates for remembrance.
It is done by running the flat tips of the gingers firmly over the skin around the nipple in a circular motion from one end to the other.
After one is done, it is important to also check the armpit for lumps and also squeeze the nipple to check for any abnormal discharge.
