Your Health
Breast Cancer Isn’t Just For Women!
Thanks to nationwide attention to women’s breast cancer awareness, great strides have been made in the early detection and treatments for women, however, breast cancer in men hasn’t advanced as much as it has for women.
Statistics show that in 2023, about 2800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 530 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. While male breast cancer accounts for less than one percent of all breast cancer diagnoses, about one in 833 men will develop it in their lifetime.
The fact that it is rare in men makes it uniquely challenging to diagnose. Men may ignore symptoms as it is primarily seen as a “women’s disease.” Even when a man sees his primary care physician with unusual chest symptoms, neither is expecting breast cancer. Signs and symptoms of male breast cancer can include:
A painless lump or thickening in your breast tissue.
- Changes to the skin covering your breast, such as dimpling, puckering, redness, or scaling.
- Changes to your nipple, such as redness or scaling, or a nipple that begins to turn inward.
- Discharge from your nipple
Although there are currently no screening recommendations for asymptomatic men, a considerable effort is being made to increase awareness of male breast cancer which is on the rise.
As an Iron Road healthcare member a diagnostic mammogram and biopsy would be a covered benefit.
Topics: Your Health
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