Men: This is Why You Should Check Out Your Own Breasts

Noelle Collins, ASN, RN

Most everyone knows that women are at risk for Breast Cancer and should do monthly self-exams. What about Men? They are at risk, too, especially if they have a history of certain types of cancer in their family. Even though men tend to have a lower risk of Breast Cancer, they do still get diagnosed with it. In fact, according to the CDC, 1 in every 100 cases of Breast Cancer diagnosed are in Men. This risk goes up if men have blood relatives who have had Breast, Pancreatic, Ovarian, or Prostate Cancers or if they have certain conditions.

Family History of Cancer

We have a big history of cancer in my family, and because of this, cancer is always in the back of my mind. After watching my Grandma pass away from malignant Breast Cancer when I was in high school, I decided I wanted to become a nurse. I eventually became an Oncology nurse. I wanted to be a part of helping people beat cancer.

My Dad is the sole survivor of his immediate family. Every other one of his five immediate family members has died of some type of cancer, yet all of them had different kinds of cancer. His Mom's side of the family had multiple people with a history of Cancer as well. My Dad's Mom died of Breast Cancer at age 72. His Father was diagnosed and treated for Lymphoma but lived past 90. His oldest brother died of Melanoma from a mole he had on his toe all his life when the cancer was caught late. He didn't realize that he should be concerned when the mole started bleeding. His 2nd brother died of Prostate Cancer in 2020. We won't go into detail about how the doctor stopped his chemo treatments for Stage IV Cancer due to COVID when they were afraid the hospitals would be overwhelmed. At least he was able to be home at the end to be with his family while on Hospice for a few weeks.

Dad Aware Of Risk

My Dad has had skin Cancer. It was found early, and he was able to easily have it taken care of in a doctor's office this Summer. He also has regular colonoscopies because he has had several benign polyps in the past and has an extended family history of colon cancer. So, I knew he was doing good with being aware of his risks and any changes that he should be concerned about.

But Not Aware of Breast Cancer in Men

One thing that wasn't on our radar was the risk of Breast Cancer for him. His Mom did have Breast Cancer, but since it's not as common in men, it's not one we really worried about. Even though only about 1 in 100 cases of Cancer diagnosed are for men, it's important to know it's still a risk and something we all need to be aware of and watch out for with the men in our lives. As an Oncology nurse, I am embarrassed to say; I should have been more aware of how much he was at risk for Breast Cancer.

Sore Chest / Lump From Accident

My Dad accidentally got hit in the chest at work about a month ago and noticed it was sore for a while. He didn't think much of it, but it kept feeling sore, and then he realized he had more of a lump or nodule on his chest than what would be there from a basic injury. It didn't go away, so he did schedule an appointment with his doctor. It got canceled. We should talk about how often that seems to happen post-Covid, and how it can affect patient outcomes. Anyway, after he found out his appointment was canceled, he wisely decided he would go to Urgent Care to make sure he didn't have an infection from his sore. The NP there was very good and very concerned about the lump, its location, and his family history and scheduled him right away for some tests. He is currently scheduled for an ultrasound and a mammogram. That's right; men can have mammograms too! I am glad they are taking this all so seriously. I am praying it comes back as something benign, but with his family history, he definitely needs to get it checked out.

Cancer Warning Signs / Symptoms

According to the American Cancer Society, here are some warning signs and symptoms that men and the people in their lives should be aware of:

A lump or swelling in the breast
Skin dimpling or puckering
Nipple inversion
Redness or scaling of the nipple or skin
Discharge from the nipple
Pain or no pain associated with the lump

So, men, the next time you are drying off after a shower, take time to check out your muscles in the mirror. Examine your chest and breasts and even the areas underneath your armpits. If you notice any of the symptoms above, schedule an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out.

Men At Risk If They...

According to the CDC's webpage, Breast Cancer in Men, Men are more at risk for Breast Cancer if they:

Have A Family History of Breast, Prostate, Ovarian, or Pancreatic Cancer in their immediate family
Are above 50
Are overweight or obese
Had Radiation, especially of the Chest area in the past
Have had Hormone replacement therapy
Had an injury to the testicles, previous removal of testicles, or a testicle that wasn't fully descended.
Have Genetic Mutations
Have Liver Disease
Have Klinefelter Syndrome

We all know that women should perform regular breast checks for any visible changes and possible lumps or nodules, and now I hope we all know that men should, too, especially if they have any of these conditions or a family history that could increase their risks.