It’s October and calendars all over the world are packed with events that will be dressed in pink ribbons! The stories of courageous women who have been impacted by breast cancer will inspire and educate us. In the midst of our support and empowerment of women during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we seemed to have forgotten about the men.
We do recognize how breast cancer affects their lives as a husband or a son, but not often do we recognize that men can also be the warriors fighting the disease.
When it comes to men and breast cancer, there is a lack of awareness and stigma that comes with the thought of a man having a “woman’s disease”. Knowing the risk factors can bring more awareness that can be preventative and life-saving, so here are 8 to look out for.
1. Excessive Drinking
If you’re a guy who drinks a half bottle of vodka every night of the week, your risk of breast cancer greatly increases.
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Heavy drinking leads to liver damage, which can cause low production of male hormones. In turn, gynecomastia (overdevelopment of male breast tissue) increases your risk of breast cancer as well.
2. Obesity
Skipping out on the gym and unhealthy eating habits can lead you on a path to obesity.
Obesity is a risk factor for developing breast cancer because those extra fat cells will convert your male hormones into female hormones. An excess of female hormones increases your risk of breast cancer.
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3. Family History
If anyone in your family, male or female, was diagnosed with breast cancer, you are at an increased risk for the disease.
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Inheriting a gene mutation, such as the BRCA2 gene, greatly increases your risk for breast and prostate cancer. You may want to ask your
