Breast cancer is not gender-selective

“Breast cancer is about 100 times less common among men than among women. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about one in 1,000,” according to the American Cancer Society. This statistic shows why men are not aware that breast cancer can affect them as well.

Although certain risk factors like hormone levels, gene changes mutation, acquired and inherited gene mutations may increase a man’s chances of developing breast cancer, the cause of most breast cancer in men is unknown.

Men— Do not think your masculinity sets you so far apart from us females. Men and women all have breast tissues. Boys and men usually do not make much of the breast-stimulating hormones that are why their breasts usually stay flat and small. Usually if a male’s breast is medium-sized or big it is most likely fat, but sometimes men can develop real breast gland tissue because they take certain medicines or have abnormal hormone levels.

Guys, do not let your ego be the reason why it is a little too late for you to get treatment for this serious disease. Cancer over time does not get better it only gets worse. So yes, waiting a week or a month to see a doctor can be a BIG factor to your treatments and your chances of beating cancer.

The key statistics for breast cancer in men in the United States for 2015 are that about 2,350 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed; about 440 men will die from breast cancer.

Symptoms of male breast cancer are a lump felt in the breast, nipple pain, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge (clear or bloody), sore on the nipple and areola and any enlarged lymph nodes under the arm.

Be aware, you can do a regular self-exam or go visit your doctor today. The “if only” thoughts will not go away or help you when the time is too late.