Breast cancer: are men the forgotten victims?

From breast cancer will suffer about 1 to 1000 men and 1 in 8 women.

However, breast cancer is the less common in men than in women. From breast cancer will suffer about 1 to 1000 men and 1 in 8 women. But worrying is the fact that men have a lower probability of survival of breast cancer.

Previous studies have shown that in the diagnosis of men more likely to suffer from quite large tumors that are in many cases already spread to other parts of the body.

This may be due to the fact that women are more aware of the risks they face. Statistical studies have shown that as many as 80% of men worldwide are not aware that they suffer from breast cancer, and most of them were not aware of the first symptoms, with the exception of nodules.

A large number of people believe that men can suffer from breast cancer because they do not actually have cancer. In fact, men and women, with the breast tissue, although it is much less than in females. This tissue contains cells, which can become cancerous.

The exact cause of breast cancer is still unclear, but there are many factors that increase the risk. They are the same as those of women. In men, the risk of breast cancer increases dramatically after the age of 68 years.

Some of the factors that increase the risk include smoking, obesity, exposure to radiation, excessive alcohol consumption and unhealthy diet.

Women are encouraged to regular checkups to detect the slightest abnormality. And as men we often do not think they should do the same.

Men, like women, should encourage regular checkups. In this way they will be able to diagnose cancer in its earliest stage, which is extremely important for successful treatment and recovery.

Photo by Butz.2013 CC BY