Many people, think they know all there is to know when it comes to breast cancer. But, there is a side to breast cancer that is often overlooked and misdiagnosed resulting in what is for some deadly consequences: male breast cancer.

When we think of breast cancer we don’t usually associate the disease with men. And yet, studies have shown that breast cancer among men has been on the rise over the last 20 years without any firm reasons why.  The cells of the male breast ducts are the same as those of a woman’s and they can undergo cancerous changes.

Guthrie County Hospital Director of Radiology Sarah Madsen says they usually see about a dozen men per year that experience the same symptoms that women do with the most common being lump formations on the breasts.  Other symptoms include pain in the breast or nipple, nipple inversion, discharge from the nipple and any change in either breast or nipple appearance.  Madsen says the testing procedure is also the same for men as it is for women, including doing a mammogram, with performing an ultrasound if needed.  Madsen explained that the mammogram is not used as a screening tool for men as it is for women.  A mammogram is done usually after the symptoms appear.

If you notice anything abnormal it is important to discuss them with your doctor and openly discuss male breast cancer with him or her.  Embarrassment shouldn’t be an excuse when it comes to safeguarding your health.  It does not emasculate you to come forward if you have concerns or questions for your doctor nor does discussion of breast cancer in males take away from the harshness of the disease in regards to women.