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What is Male Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer can form in both men and women, though it is more rarely found in the breast tissue of men. Male breast cancer is more commonly found in older men, though it may occur at any age. Men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage have the best chance for a cure.
Common symptoms of male breast cancer may include:
- A lump or thickening in the breast tissue.
- Changes to the skin on the breast, such as redness, dimpling, or scaling.
- Changed in the nipple, such as redness, or a nipple that turns inward.
- Discharge from the nipple.
While it is not clear what causes male breast cancer, we do know that breast cancer can begin in the milk ducts (ductal carcinoma) or the milk-producing glands (lobular carcinoma). Some men may also inherit mutated genes from their parents that put that at an increased risk of breast cancer, such as the BRCA 2 gene.
Who is a good candidate for Male Breast Cancer Treatment?
Men who have been diagnosed with male breast cancer can benefit from treatment. There are a number of factors that may increase the risk of male breast cancer, including older age, exposure to estrogen, liver disease, obesity, a family history of breast cancer, testicle disease, or Klinefelter’s syndrome. The best way to determine which treatment option is best for you is to schedule a consultation appointment with one of our plastic surgeons.
Before + After
Patient Results
Breast reconstruction surgery is often a life-changing experience for our patients. Our goal is to help our patients feel whole again after undergoing breast cancer treatment. View our gallery to learn more about the various reconstructive surgeries performed by our board-certified plastic surgeons at Tucson Plastic Surgery.
BEFORE & AFTER GALLERY
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Male Breast Cancer Treatment Steps
In order to first diagnose male breast cancer, your doctor may have you undergo a number of tests or procedures, including a clinical breast exam, imaging tests, or biopsy. Once your cancer has been diagnosed, your doctor will have to establish the stage of the cancer through a number of scans. There are a number of surgical treatment options available, depending on your overall health and the stage of your breast cancer. These include:
Mastectomy
This procedure involves removing all of the breast tissue, including the nipple and areola, to ensure that all breast cancer is removed.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
During this procedure, your doctor will identify the lymph nodes that your cancer is most likely to spread to. These lymph nodes are then removed and analyzed. If no cancer is found in the lymph nodes, then there is a chance that the cancer has not spread beyond the breast tissue. If cancer is found, more lymph nodes will be removed for testing.
Recovery Process
Male Breast Cancer Treatment Recovery
4-6 Weeks
Overall, the downtime for breast cancer treatment will differ depending on the extent of the procedure performed. Bruising and soreness are to be expected, though should dissipate over time. Your plastic surgeon will give you specific directions on how to properly care for your surgical site, as well as how to properly take any medications that you are prescribed. If have any questions regarding your procedure or healing process, do not hessite to contact our office.
Silvia Kurtovic, MD & Raman Mahabir, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeons
At Tucson Plastic Surgery, we have a patient-centric approach that sets us apart from the rest. We take the time to really get to know you and your aesthetic goals during one-on-one conversations which help us to fully understand your motivations.