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Mangaluru: A sedentary lifestyle, supported by factors such as obesity, excessive intake of alcohol, and smoking has led to an increase in breast cancer cases at a younger age. Dr Harish E, consultant, surgical oncology, KMC Hospital, Mangaluru has observed a slow rise in breast cancer cases among men.
He told TOI: “Though the incidence of breast cancer is rare in men compared to women, we are seeing at least two cases a year. Breast cancer attacks men when cancer cells are formed in the male breast tissue. About 10 years ago, breast cancer was seen in men of the age 50-70 years has now come down to 40-50 years.’’ Out of the 140 breast cancer cases that Dr Harish had operated on last year, two were male breast cancer cases.
However, the ratio is such that out of a total of 100 patients 99 of them are women and only one is a man. However, of this, 60-70% of men getting diagnosed with breast cancer are in the advanced stage of cancer — third or last stage. This is because the cancer cells in men spread aggressively when compared to women and often ignore symptoms like lumps and ulcers. These symptoms then advance to become back pain, jaundice, and breathlessness.
Men with a history of breast cancer in the family, men with gynecomastia have a much higher chance of getting breast cancer, Dr Harish added.
Dr Krithika Murugan, consultant surgical oncologist, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru said: “Though the incidence of male breast cancer is less than one per cent, the causes are more or less the same as for female breast cancer but it becomes important to test for gene mutations, especially the well known BRCA gene. Also, ever since the pandemic, we are noticing that the size and stage of tumours is more advanced at presentation which could be due to delayed hospital visits. We are studying the influence of the pandemic on cancer presentation and treatment among our group of patients,” she added.
He told TOI: “Though the incidence of breast cancer is rare in men compared to women, we are seeing at least two cases a year. Breast cancer attacks men when cancer cells are formed in the male breast tissue. About 10 years ago, breast cancer was seen in men of the age 50-70 years has now come down to 40-50 years.’’ Out of the 140 breast cancer cases that Dr Harish had operated on last year, two were male breast cancer cases.
However, the ratio is such that out of a total of 100 patients 99 of them are women and only one is a man. However, of this, 60-70% of men getting diagnosed with breast cancer are in the advanced stage of cancer — third or last stage. This is because the cancer cells in men spread aggressively when compared to women and often ignore symptoms like lumps and ulcers. These symptoms then advance to become back pain, jaundice, and breathlessness.
Men with a history of breast cancer in the family, men with gynecomastia have a much higher chance of getting breast cancer, Dr Harish added.
Dr Krithika Murugan, consultant surgical oncologist, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru said: “Though the incidence of male breast cancer is less than one per cent, the causes are more or less the same as for female breast cancer but it becomes important to test for gene mutations, especially the well known BRCA gene. Also, ever since the pandemic, we are noticing that the size and stage of tumours is more advanced at presentation which could be due to delayed hospital visits. We are studying the influence of the pandemic on cancer presentation and treatment among our group of patients,” she added.
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