Breast health: A guide for women and men.
Breast cancer is more common in women, but men can also be affected. Read more about prevention, screening and treatment.
October 8, 2024
After skin cancer, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Although rare, men account for about 1% of every breast cancer diagnosis in the United States.
Outside of physical differences, there are many similarities between male and female breasts. These similarities also contribute to like symptoms of breast cancer, which include:
- A lump or swelling in the breast.
- Redness or flaky skin in the breast.
- Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
- Nipple discharge.
- Collapsed nipple or pain in the nipple area.
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or neck area.
Prevention
There may not be a way to completely prevent cancer, however there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting cancer or increase your chance of catching the cancer growth early. These include:
- Know your family medical history and share it with your healthcare provider.
- Avoid unhealthy habits that contribute to cancer like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Stay active with regular exercise. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
- Embrace a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Detection
Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment and survival of breast cancer. One simple way of detecting changes in your breasts is to perform a monthly self-exam. This includes looking at your breasts in the mirror, feeling the tissue of the breasts for lumps or other changes and squeezing the nipple to check for discharge. A self-exam will help you detect changes, but may not be the most reliable way to detect cancer.
A more reliable way to screen for cancer is with a mammogram. Mammography is effective for both men and women. A mammogram is a picture of the inside of the breast and may find tumors and other abnormalities that are too small to feel. Depending on the circumstance, the doctor may request an MRI, biopsy or other screening tests. Doctors typically do not screen men for breast cancer. Women, over age 40, may be screened annually or every two years, depending on their family and personal health history. Talk with your doctor to determine if you should be screened sooner or with greater or less frequency.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer there are many factors you and the doctor should consider when developing a treatment plan. Some include the stage and grade of the cancer, whether certain biomarkers are present that indicate how your body may respond to a treatment, your overall health and the goal of treatment. Your options may include one or more of these treatments:
- Surgery to remove the cancerous cells.
- Radiation to kill the cancer cells or keep them from growing.
- Chemotherapy using drugs to kill the cancer cells or keep them from growing.
- Hormone therapy to slow or stop the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors.
- Targeted therapy using drugs to attack specific cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy to boost the immune system to fight the cancer.
Nashville General Hospital's Breast Health Center offers both preventative care and treatment in an inviting, comfortable setting. If you have questions about breast health or to schedule an appointment, visit the Breast Health Center.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should talk with your primary care physician or other qualified medical professionals regarding diagnosis and treatment of a health condition.
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