One of the biggest types of stigmas in the world is breast cancer. You’re probably wondering how breast cancer can be stigmatized if there are so many organizations, movements, and even dedicated colors and symbols for breast cancer right? Since breast cancer affects one specific gender the most, of course, it can’t be stigmatized for them, but what about the other gender? When you see these movements, posters, ads, charities and organizations about bringing awareness to breast cancer and fighting for more research, the first thing that comes to your mind is women. Why? Usually, that’s who develops breast cancer the most, but did you know that men can develop it too? So if men can develop breast cancer as well, why isn’t it talked about as much? Simple, because of stigmas.
Can Men Actually Develop Breast Cancer?
It might not happen as commonly as women, but men can develop breast cancer and more light needs to be shed on it. Doctors aren’t sure what truly causes breast cancer in men but what they do know is that it usually occurs when the breast cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells.
These cells then form a tumor and metastasize to nearby tissue. In men, breast cancer can form in a few different places. One of them is the milk ducts. This is usually where most men develop breast cancer.
Another area where men can develop breast cancer is in the lobular carcinoma, also known as the milk-producing glands, though this is a rarer type of cancer for men.
Then there is nipple and inflammatory breast cancer and Paget’s disease which are other ways for men to develop breast cancer if they experience any of these.
Men Can Have Breast Cancer Too: 8 Risk Factors To Know
What Are The Odds Of Men Developing Metastatic Breast Cancer
Since men can develop breast cancer, it’s important to know if they can develop different types of breast cancer as well.
Only one percent of breast cancer occurs in men overall and as stated before, almost all breast cancer cases found in men, developed in their milk ducts.
When it comes to metastatic breast cancer, some men can develop it from the start. Metastatic breast cancer occurs when undiagnosed breast cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. Doctors refer to this as de novo breast cancer. Men are usually diagnosed with