The African-American Male and Breast Cancer

The St. John AME Newsletter 9th Episcopal District

Reprinted with permission from The Valley Weekly

Robinson, J. (2023, October 20). The African-American male and breast cancer. The Valley  

     Weekly. Page 8. https://www. Valleyweeklyllc.com.

One of the biggest types of stigma in the world is breast cancer. You are probably wondering how breast cancer can be stigmatized if there are so many organizations, movements, and even dedicated colors and symbols for breast cancer, right? Since breast cancer affects one specific gender the most, of course, it cannot be stigmatized for them, but what about the other gender? When a person observes these movements, posters, ads, charities, and organizations about bringing awareness to breast cancer and fighting for more research, the first thing that comes to mind is women. Why? Usually, that is who develops breast cancer the most, but did you know that men can develop it too? So, if men can develop breast cancer as well, why is it not talked about as much? Simple, because of stigmas.

Can Men Actually Develop Breast Cancer?

It might not happen as commonly as women, but men can develop breast cancer, and more light needs to be shed on it. Doctors are not sure what truly causes breast cancer in men, but what they do know is that it usually occurs when the breast cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells.

These cells then form a tumor and metastasize to nearby tissue. In men, breast cancer can form in a few different places. One of them is the milk ducts. This is usually where most men develop breast cancer.

Another area where men can develop breast cancer is in the lobular carcinoma, also known as the milk-producing glands, though this is a rarer type of cancer for men. Then there is nipple and inflammatory breast cancer and Paget’s disease, which are other ways for men to develop breast cancer if they experience any of these.

What Are the Odds of Men Developing Metastatic Breast Cancer?

Since men can develop breast cancer, it is important to know if they can develop different types of breast cancer as well. Only one percent of breast cancer occurs in men overall, and as stated before, almost all breast cancer cases found in men developed in their milk ducts.

When it comes to metastatic breast cancer, some men can develop it from the start. Metastatic breast cancer occurs when undiagnosed breast cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. Doctors refer to this as de novo breast cancer. Men are usually diagnosed with a more advanced stage of cancer because since it is so uncommon for men to develop breast cancer, they do not get checked for it the way women are pushed to. Therefore,  if a man develops breast cancer, he is more than likely going to develop metastatic breast cancer. The risk factors for developing breast cancer include having a family history of breast cancer, genetic mutations (BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene), having high estrogen levels, getting older, radiation exposure, and more.

What to Do If You Are Concerned

If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be dealing with breast cancer, knowing what to look for will help you determine your next steps. Much like women, men should also be encouraged to check for lumps.

Self-checks play an important role in detecting breast cancer early. When looking for male breast cancer, one of the main signs will be a lump in the breast that feels like a hard pebble. Other symptoms that show breast cancer may have developed are nipple pain, lump(s) under the nipple or in the armpit, nipple discharge and its turning inward, changes in the breast (puckered, redness, soreness, dimpling, etc.), change in the shape of the breast and more. These are the same signs that women look for if breast cancer develops.

How to Destigmatize Breast Cancer The stigmatization of breast cancer and men to dissipate it starts with bringing more awareness to the situation. Often, when men develop breast cancer, they think something is wrong with them, or they feel emasculated because it is a “woman’s” disease.

Anyone can get breast cancer, even children, so it is time to start talking more about it. Men need to show up more for other men and stop making them feel bad about something that can happen to anyone. Pushing for men to get mammograms more often, creating more and shedding light on support groups for men with breast cancer, getting tested regularly for other types of cancers and illnesses, and speaking up about men with breast cancer are all ways to help destroy the stigma.

It is time for the world to be more open about men and their health because how will you know what to do if you do not know what to look for?