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Male Breast Cancer --Signs and Top 10 Ways to Lower Your Risk Related Links Male Menopause- Symptoms and Top 10 Natural Remedies Do Laptops Reduce Sperm Count? -New Study Male Pattern Baldness-Facts and Myths Soy Reduces Sperm Count -New Study Low Folate Harms Your Sperm Laughter Improves Erectile Function BodyBuilding-How Much Protein Do You Need? Whey Versus Creatine-Which Is Better? Zinc Increases Your Testosterone Level Fatty Diet Linked to Prostate Cancer Foods That Strenghthen Erectile Performance Blood Pressure-What It Means Foods That Reduce Blood Pressure Penis Shaving Bumps-Home Remedies Yoga That Improves Erectile Performance Better Tasting Sperm Get Lean Diet for Men May 16, 2011 By Michael Chang, Contributing Columnist Marathons, fundraisers, and other breast cancer campaigns have sought to bring awareness to the disease that has inflicted women for years. However, while the vast majority of breast cancer cases do occur in women, there is a small percentage of men who suffer from this condition, a statistic that is rarely broadcasted, even with these breast cancer awareness campaigns. You might be wondering how men can suffer from a condition whose very name suggests it is a disease that inflicts women. Contrary to popular belief, men do possess a small amount of breast tissue that is concentrated behind the nipple that cannot produce milk. Similar to breast cancer in women, men suffer from this disease when the abnormal cells of this breast tissue grow uncontrollably. While it is undoubtedly a rare condition, accounting for only about 1% of all breast cancer cases, it is still a concern for those inflicted. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2010, there will be approximately 1,970 newly diagnosed cases of male breast cancer and will result in about 390 deaths. Even though breast cancer is 100 times more common in women and even though a man’s risk of developing this condition is approximately 1/10 of 1%, it is important to understand the causes and symptoms of the condition, as well as the ways to reduce the risks. Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer When detecting the symptoms of the condition, you need to keep a lookout for telltale signs of breast cancer. The most obvious and common symptom of male breast cancer is a lump behind the nipple. Just as women as encouraged to routinely check their mammary glands for tumors, lumps, and other signs of breast cancer, men should also keep an eye out for any similar signs. Other signs and symptoms of this condition include pain, changes in skin, changes in lymph nodes, fatigue, and even difficulty swallowing. Causes of Male Breast Cancer As with any medical condition, it is difficult to pinpoint the direct cause; however, there are particular causes that put certain people at more risk than others—particular demographics, lifestyles, or environments. Here are some of the most common causes of male breast cancer. • Radiation exposure: Exposure to ionizing radiation may potentially increase the risk of developing male breast cancer. Those who have gone through radiation therapy to treat other medical conditions in the chest area, such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma, have an increased risk for breast cancer. • Hyperestroegnism: Men normally produce a minimala mount of estrogen, a female hormone, however, certain men produce an abnormally high level of estrogen. Sometimes, in response to the elevated levels of estrogen, the male breasts will become enlarged and thus, increasing the risk of male breast cancer. • Klinefelter’s Syndrome: This genetic condition that affected about one in 1,000 men increases the risk of male breast cancer. A normal man has two sex chromosome (an X from his mother and a Y from his father); however, men with this syndrome have an additional inherited female X chromosome. While they are still male, these patients produce high levels of estrogen, develop large breasts, sparse facial and body hair, and the inability to produce semen. The risk of development of male breast cancer for these patients is up to 50 times that of normal men. 10 Ways to Reduce Your Risk 1. Lower Alcohol Consumption to Lower Risk According to a study published by Cancer Research UK in 2011, alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer. The study of one million middle-aged British women concludes that each daily alcohol beverage increases the incidence of breast cancer by 11 cases per 1000 women. Even just one or two alcoholic beverages per day increases the relative risk to 150% of normal risk. And six drinks per day increases that risk to an astounding 330% of normal risk. Alcohol causes breast cancer, in both men and women, due to the increased estrogen level. Because of the increased risks of male breast cancer due to alcohol consumption, reducing the quantity of alcohol consumed with significantly reduce your risk. Cirrhosis of the liver, which occurs from primarily from alcohol abuse or genetic conditions, can result in higher incidences of male breast cancer. The liver is responsible to the transport and delivery of male and female hormones in the bloodstream and when cirrhosis occurs, the liver functions are compromised, affecting and altering the male and female hormones. Consequently, men with cirrhosis have increased levels of estrogen, putting them at higher risk of breast cancer. 2. Association Between Breast Cancer and Fat Intake Dietary influences play a huge role in your health, including the development of male breast cancer. According to a 2003 study by Harvard Medical School, rates of obesity have strong linkages with breast cancer development. The study suggests that low-fat diets may decrease the risk as well as recurrence of breast cancer. Moreover, individuals who suffer from obesity are at higher risk because obese men have elevated levels of estrogen and consequently enlarged breasts. Taking steps towards a healthy, well-balanced diet will not only lower your risks for breast cancer, but it will also provide many health perks as well. 3. Consumption of Vitamin D can Lower Breast Cancer Risks Vitamin D has been found to lower the risk of developing breast cancer. According to a 2011 study conducted at the University of Rochester Medical Center, lower vitamin D levels among patients were associated with more aggressive tumors and poorer prognosis. Consequently, doctor’s have been using the levels of vitamin D as a way to predict the patient’s outcome. In order to reduce those risks, increasing your intake of vitamin D-rich foods can greatly help you ward off breast cancer. So, drink up that milk and soak up that sun. 4. Eat Your Brassica Vegetables to Decrease Risks Those who eat their broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and Brussel sprouts will be glad to know that increase consumption of Brassica vegetables is inversely related to breast cancer development. According to a 2001 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, those who consumed around 1.5 serving of Brassica vegetables per day has 42% less risk of developing breast cancer than those who did not consumer any vegetables. So, when your mother told you to eat your vegetables, she was right! 5. Mushrooms Can Lower Your Risk Level A 2009 University of Western Australia study, which studied the diets of 2,018 women in Hangzhou, China, concluded that those who consumed mushrooms had an approximately 50% lower incidence of breast cancer. Even consuming less than one button mushroom daily would many health benefits. Incorporating mushrooms into your diet could be a great way to ward off developing breast cancer. Who knew that these little fungi could do so much good for you? 6. Smoking Tobacco Can Put You At Higher Risk While many studies throughout the past few decades had not conclusively linked smoking tobacco with breast cancer development, recent studies have suggested that there is an increased risk of breast cancer among active smokers. According to a 2011 West Virginia University study, active smokers are subject to higher risks of developing breast cancer due to the mammary carcinogens in smoke. Thus, beyond the many health detriments already caused by smoking tobacco, you can add another one to the list. 7. Exposure to Passive Smoking Can Cause Cancer Even if you do not choose to smoke cigarettes yourself, exposure to second-hand smoke can be just as deadly. According to a 2005 report by the California Environmental Protection Agency, passive smoking increases breast cancer risk by 70% in younger individuals. While you might not be able to control others smoking around you, you can reduce the instances in which you are surrounded by second-hand smoke. 8. Catch the Problem Early on with Routine Self-Checkups Any health education course throughout your primary and secondary education has taught young girls to routinely check their breasts for any lumps and irregularities. Similarly, young men are taught to do the same with their testicles to ensure testicular cancer does not develop. However, because men can also suffer from male breast cancer, it is also important to check that lumps are not developing in their breast tissue. Getting in the habit of checking before or after a shower can help you stay in tuned with potential symptoms that might warrant a trip to the doctor. 9. Iodine Deficiency Reduces Protection Against Breast Cancer Iodine deficiency has been seen as a protective supplement against breast cancer due to examination and research on iodine consumption. In Japan, women consumer 25% more iodine dietary iodine than American women and incidences of breast cancer are less. Moreover, since the 1970s, breast cancer incidences have increased whereas iodine consumption decreased. Increasing your iodine intake can protect your body against breast cancer, so eat your spinach, seafood, and seaweed. 10. Make Regular Visits to the Doctor’s Office Men are notorious for avoiding the doctors. If it were not for the women in their lives, they would perhaps avoid making these dreaded appointments at all. However, this is unfortunate because many diseases and conditions can be diagnosed early on and treated much more easily. Scheduling routine medical exams to ensure that everything is in order will definitely reduce the risk of falling victim to male breast cancer. Even if you get the condition, an early doctor’s visit will definitely increase the odds of you surviving. Learn more tips to improve your health and fitness: Soy Foods Reduce Sperm Count / Snoring Affects Erections / Build Up Your Arms-Ideal Rotation Routine / Whey Versus Creatine-Which One Is Better for Strength /Celebrity Workouts /Foods That Strengthen Erectile Performance/ Fatty Foods Linked to Male Baldness/ Prostate Cancer Linked to Fatty Diet / Soy Foods Reduce Sperm Count |
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| Richard Roundtree, who starred in the 1970's classic "Shaft", was diagnosed with male breast cancer in 1993 and has become a spokesman to raise awareness of the disease |