If you hadn’t noticed, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Events such as The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the NFL’s A Crucial Catch have brought the disease into our collective consciousness and saved countless lives. However, despite the attention given to the disease, many are surprised to learn that 2% of the people diagnosed with breast cancer are men. 
Breast cancer kills one man every day in the United States, and one in 1,000 men is diagnosed with the disease. The numbers are not nearly as high as those facing women, but many men are not aware they are at risk at all. Spreading the word The Blue Wave, an organization dedicated to raising awareness for male breast cancer, created a campaign to make the third week in October “Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week”. This year, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are observing the occasion. In the same way that many organizations have embraced pink as a symbol for breast cancer awareness, The Blue Wave encourages people to show their support for Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week by wearing the color blue. It also hopes to spread awareness through word of mouth, asking people to tell at least 10 people about the disease. Peter Criss, the former drummer and founder of the band KISS uses his celebrity to share his own breast cancer battle and encourage men to have suspicious growths checked by a doctor. “It’s an honor to educate people about male breast cancer and reaching out and letting people know about it,” Criss said in a recent interview with USA Today. Other famous men who have battled the disease include Richard Roundtree, also known as Shaft; Ernest Green, a former Cleveland Brown’s fullback; and Rod Roddy of “The Price is Right”. Understanding the disease Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Before puberty, males and females both have a small amount of breast tissue and breast ducts. Hormones cause tissue and ducts to grow in women when they reach puberty, while men typically maintain that same small amount of tissue and ducts. Because men have less breast tissue and fewer ducts, there are simply fewer cells that could develop into a malignant tumor. The cause of most breast cancers in men is unknown, however the American Cancer Society (ACS) says the following risk factors may increase a man’s chances of developing breast cancer:
Breast cancer kills one man every day in the United States, and one in 1,000 men is diagnosed with the disease. The numbers are not nearly as high as those facing women, but many men are not aware they are at risk at all. Spreading the word The Blue Wave, an organization dedicated to raising awareness for male breast cancer, created a campaign to make the third week in October “Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week”. This year, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are observing the occasion. In the same way that many organizations have embraced pink as a symbol for breast cancer awareness, The Blue Wave encourages people to show their support for Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week by wearing the color blue. It also hopes to spread awareness through word of mouth, asking people to tell at least 10 people about the disease. Peter Criss, the former drummer and founder of the band KISS uses his celebrity to share his own breast cancer battle and encourage men to have suspicious growths checked by a doctor. “It’s an honor to educate people about male breast cancer and reaching out and letting people know about it,” Criss said in a recent interview with USA Today. Other famous men who have battled the disease include Richard Roundtree, also known as Shaft; Ernest Green, a former Cleveland Brown’s fullback; and Rod Roddy of “The Price is Right”. Understanding the disease Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Before puberty, males and females both have a small amount of breast tissue and breast ducts. Hormones cause tissue and ducts to grow in women when they reach puberty, while men typically maintain that same small amount of tissue and ducts. Because men have less breast tissue and fewer ducts, there are simply fewer cells that could develop into a malignant tumor. The cause of most breast cancers in men is unknown, however the American Cancer Society (ACS) says the following risk factors may increase a man’s chances of developing breast cancer:
- Radiation exposure
- Liver disease
- Estrogen treatment
- Obesity
- Testicular conditions
The ACS website provides more information about how each of these factors contributes to increased breast cancer risk. Reducing risk Men who want to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer can maintain ideal body weight and restrict alcohol consumption. However, because the cause of most breast cancers is unknown, there is little men can do to prevent the disease. With that said, it is important for men to perform self-examinations and seek medical attention for any lumps as soon as possible. Many men tend to ignore early signs of lumps and will go to the doctor only after the lump has gotten bigger. As a result men are typically diagnosed with more advanced stages of cancer than women.
