How to Diagnose Male Breast Cancer?

1. Clinical breast exam

A breast lump or abnormality will usually first be investigated with a physician-performed clinical breast exam

2. Complete physical exam

A complete physical exam (to check for enlarged lymph nodes, liver problems, etc.).

3. Family history

The physician will also assess the patient's personal and family history, since male breast cancer tends to occur more frequently when one or more female relatives also has (or has had) breast cancer. Because men have significantly less breast tissue t han most women, a breast lump or other abnormality is usually much easier to detect with physical examination on a man than on a woman. However, male breast cancer tends to affect the skin and muscles underneath the breast more quickly than female breast cancer. While male breast cancer tends to be smaller when found, it is more likely to have spread past the breast than female breast cancer.

4. Mammogram

If a physician is concerned about his or her findings during a clinical breast exam, he or she may order a mammogram to further investigate the breast abnormality. Diagnostic mammography involves taking x-ray images of the breast. In some cases, special mammography views such as spot compression or magnification are needed.

5. Ultrasound

Additional tests such as ultrasound or a nipple discharge examination may also be ordered.

6. Biopsy

If testing reveals the possibility of cancer, a breast biopsy may be performed (although the mammographic signs of some benign conditions such as gynecomastia can be quite characteristic and biopsy may not be needed in some cases). A biopsy involves taking samples of breast tissue for pathological examination under a microscope.

A biopsy is the only definitive way to determine whether breast cancer is present. Click here to learn about the different methods of breast biopsy.

Treatment of Male Breast Cancer

Depending on the type and stage of breast cancer, one of the following treatment ill most likely be used:

1. Surgery

usually a modified radical mastectomy is performed to remove the breast, the lining over the chest muscles, and part of the chest wall muscles. Some or all of the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes  may also be removed and sent to the laboratory for pathological examination to determine whether breast cancer has spread past the breast.

2. Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to stop cancer cells from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy is often used to destroy any remaining breast cancer cells in the breast, chest wall, or axilla (underarm) area after surgery. Occasionally, radiation therapy is used before surgery to shrink the size of a tumor. A common treatment for early stage breast cancer is breast-conserving therapy. Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is the surgical removal of a breast lump (lumpectomy) and a surrounding margin of normal breast tissue. BCT is typically followed by at least six to seven weeks of radiation therapy. Treatment with radiation usually begins one month after surgery, allowing the breast tissue adequate time to heal. Radiation therapy may occasionally be recommended for women to destroy remaining cancer cells after mastectomy (surgical removal of the affected breast) or to shrink tumors in patients with advanced breast cancer.

3. Chemotherapy

This section is intended to provide general information on chemotherapy for breast cancer patients and to discuss a variety of possible side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Because chemotherapy regimens are individually tailored, the types of drugs administered and their side effects will vary considerably. The majority of the side effects associated with chemotherapy are temporary and only occur during or immediately after treatment. In the vast majority of cases, the benefits of treating cancer with chemotherapy far outweighs the risks or inconveniences of any side effects. Chemotherapy is only one possible treatment for breast cancer and may be used in addition to surgery or other treatments. Patients should discuss all aspects of chemotherapy and breast cancer treatment with their physician or cancer treatment team.

Source Wikipedia.org