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Breast cancer in men
By Sun News Publishing
Tuesday, November 18,
2008
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The Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) has raised
an alarm over increasing cases of men that have breast cancer in
the country. The stunning disclosure is contrary to the popular
belief that the disease affects only women.
According to the Registrar of RRBN, Reuben Babatunde, “breast
cancer is most common among women, but even men now have breast
cancers. There are incidences of men developing breast cancer and
this is gradually growing.”
Consequently, the RRBN has decided to train radiographers across
the country on new technologies and treatment options in mammography.
Since the breast is a very sensitive organ, it is imperative that
radiographers become abreast of new technologies for the treatment
of breast cancer.
This will afford them the knowledge of new trends and updates in
radiography.
According to medical scientists, breast cancer remains the most
common of cancers that affect women. Globally, breast cancer constitutes
a major health issue with over one million new cases diagnosed annually.
This results in over 400,000 annual deaths and about 4.4 million
people living with the disease. It kills more women than any other
kind of cancer, except lung cancer. About 150,000 women in the United
States develop breast cancer each year and 35 percent die of the
disease.
Though, the cause of breast cancer is still unknown, two genes,
BRCA1 and BRCA2, have reportedly accounted for at least 80 percent
of the breast cancer in women with a significant family history
of the disease.
Generally, breast cancer occurs much more commonly in women and
fewer than 1 in 100 of breast cancers occur in men. In the United
Kingdom, approximately 250 men are diagnosed with breast cancer
each year.
Due to paucity of data collection and documentation, available statistics
on cancer in Nigeria is unreliable. However, according to figures
provided by Globocan in 2002, breast cancer accounts for about 16
percent of all cancer related deaths in Nigeria.
Like in the case of women, the cause of breast cancer in men is
not completely understood, but some men seem to be at higher than
average risk of developing the disease. It is said that this rare
cancer most often occurs in men over the age of 60. It has been
found to be more common in men who have several close families who
have had breast cancer, or a close relative diagnosed with breast
cancer in both breasts, or a relative diagnosed with breast cancer
under the age of 40.
There are indications that having several members of the family
with cancer of the ovary or colon may also increase a man’s
risk of developing breast cancer. It has also been established that
in rare circumstances, men with high estrogen levels, or men who
have been exposed to repeated doses of radiation, particularly at
a young age, may be at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Also, men who have a rare genetic condition called Klinefelter’s
syndrome and have an extra female chromosome present, have an increased
risk of developing breast cancer.
Though different types of breast cancer can affect men in the same
way they affect women, the common type of breast cancer that affects
men is called invasive ductal carcinoma, which is also the most
common type in women. The most common symptom is a lump in the breast
area. Other signs that could herald the disease include a change
in the size and shape of the breast, an ulcer on the skin, nipple
discharge, nipple inversion and a rash on the nipple or surrounding
area.
The alarm raised by the radiographers about the condition is very
important and timely because some men might be having the condition
without knowing it. There is the need for the radiographers and
the government to embark on massive enlightenment campaign in all
parts of the country to keep men aware of this development and what
to do when it is detected.
The government should assist in the training of radiographers and
other medical experts that manage the condition. People should be
encouraged to go for breast cancer screening as early detection
gives higher chances of cure. They should also exercise to reduce
excess fat and overweight that can predispose them to cancer. Though
most cancers are genetic, people should avoid consuming food and
drinks that contain carcinogenic substances. Rather, they should
eat wholesome natural foods, fruits and vegetables, which have anti-oxidants,
which fight cancer cells in the body.
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