Are you a man who was diagnosed with breast cancer? Here is some information you need to know
If you’re a guy who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer—or if you know someone who has—you may be more than a little bit startled. But despite the fact that it’s rare in men (affecting just 0.1 percent of men overall), the American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer in men will be diagnosed in 2019,
But there’s good news, too: The five-year survival rate for guys with breast cancer is 84 percent. And the earlier the cancer is diagnosed, the better. The five-year survival jumps up to 100 percent for those who catch their cancer before it's spread.
Knowledge is power. Be informed and increase your chances of catching breast cancer early on. Here’s the scoop on risk, diagnosis, and treatment.
Step 1: Get the Full Picture
After you've been diagnosed, your doctor—and an entire team of technicians and other practitioners—will go over the results of all your tests. They’ll do some more tests to figure out how quickly your cancer might grow and how likely it might have spread.
They’ll put all this valuable information together to determine your cancer’s stage (numbered from 0 to 4). You’ll also learn specifics about your tumor, with a ranking system known as TNM—which tells you the about the tumor’s size, its movement into your lymph nodes, and if it's spread into other parts of your body. Another important piece of data will tell you whether your cancer cells contain certain hormone receptors that can influence your treatment.
That’s a lot of information. Be sure to keep copies of your test results so you can refer to everything later, as you need to make decisions.
Step 2: Decide on a Treatment Option
You may be prescribed a specific type of treatment based on the type of breast cancer you have, the stage it’s at, your preferences based on the method of treatment, and what the side effects are. Here's a breakdown of the types of treatments your doctor may discuss with you:
- Surgery. This involves removing either your entire breast or just certain portions, as with a lumpectomy.
- Chemotherapy. Cancer-fighting chemicals are injected into your vein, or in some cases, directly into the spinal fluid. Some can also be given orally.
- Radiation. Cancer cells are destroyed via high-beam radioactive energy.
- Hormone therapy. Some hormones can cause cancer cells to grow, so you may receive doses of hormone drugs like tamoxifen to keep those cancer-causing cells from working.
- Targeted therapy. This uses drugs or other substances to attack specific cancer cells—while leaving normal cells alone.
Most likely, your doctor will recommend a one, or a combination, or these treatments, depending on what stage and type of breast cancer you have.
Step 3: Don’t Fret Too Much About Vomiting with Chemo
Assume you’ll be vomiting constantly? That’s a myth, says Andrea Kassem, a breast nurse navigator with Baptist Health System in San Antonio, Texas. Most doctors supply medications to prevent nausea, vomiting, and other allergic reactions. “We’ve come a long way in the journey of breast cancer,” says Kassem. “There are so many medications that can alleviate side effects even before they start.”
Step 4: Breathe & Reframe Your Mindset
You’ve been through a lot, and you’ve got some challenges still ahead of you. But keep in mind the promising survival rates associated with male breast cancer and the excellent new treatments. Work carefully with your cancer team to manage—and minimize—any physical side effects of your treatments. And reach out to a counselor or support group for help in coping with the emotional side effects.
Kassem coaches breast cancer patients to focus on the good that the breast cancer treatment is doing to help eliminate cancer from their body, as opposed to the negative side effects it may create. “Try to look at it differently,” she stresses. “This is a treatment that’s going to help you live a long, happy, [and] healthy life.”
A breast cancer diagnosis can naturally feel jarring—and filled with plenty of questions. Remember: You’ve got a team behind you, working together for the best possible outcome. So take a deep breath. You’ve got this.
Step 5: Dress for Infusion
Wear what makes you feel comfortable. You’ll be sitting, and possibly sleeping, for several hours, so keep that in mind when getting dressed. Depending on where your port or IV is located, you’ll want to dress so that the nurse can easily access it. For ports, opt for low V-neck T-shirts or sweaters. For arm IVs, wear shirts with loose or short sleeves. If you’re unsure where the port will be located, ask your doctor or nurse.
Step 6: Reach Out to Support Services
Cancer care centers often have several specialists who can address various side effects of breast cancer treatment, including a nutritionist who can recommend different foods and recipes to deal with changing taste preferences. Additionally, a psycho-oncologist or social worker can help you manage symptoms of depression, while your nurse navigator can help address any gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea or constipation.
Step 7: Lean on Your Care Team
Regardless of the side effect, your cancer care team is there to help you 24/7. If you’re feeling miserable at home, a nurse navigator or your oncologist can provide recommendations for over-the-counter treatments over the phone, or call in a prescription to your pharmacy.
“If we can nip a symptom sooner versus later, we can manage it better,” says Kassem. “If you go through your first chemo cycle and get certain side effects, tell that to your physician. We’ve got a lot of pre-medications we can tweak to make the next cycle better.”
If you have a fever that spikes to 100.5 degrees, or you experience any unusual or rare side effect(s) listed in the paperwork, call your cancer care team immediately. They can let you know about next steps.
Step 8: Focus on Fitness
Undergoing cancer treatment of any kind can make you feel tired and fatigued. If you need to nap, listen to your body. However, don’t overlook the role that regular fitness can play in your recovery. Walking just 30 minutes a day can give you more energy and help with anxiety, depression, and sleep problems, says Kassem. Research also shows that mild forms of exercise can decrease the chances of breast cancer recurrence.
“I really advocate for patients to be as healthy as possible,” says Kassem. “The better they eat and the more they move, the better they’re going to feel throughout treatment.”
Above all, communication is key when it comes to managing chemo and other treatment side effects, says Kassem. “It’s not something you’re supposed to be miserable throughout. We want you to be able to live with as much normalcy and fulfill life goals.”
If you've had surgery to treat your breast cancer, however, it's important to not rush fitness. Talk to your doctor about the level of activity you should be sticking to in the days, weeks, and months following the operation.
Step 9: Consider Genetic Testing for the Future
While inherited mutations in several genes contribute to the chance of getting breast cancer as a man, the most common hereditary form is a result of faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, says Suguitan.
In normal cells, these genes act as tumor suppressors and work to help prevent cancer. For men with a BRCA1 mutation, their lifetime risk of breast cancer increases to 1.2 percent. And if you have a the BRCA2 mutation, that risk jumps to 7 percent––and can put you at a greater risk for prostate cancer.
“What we know of BRCA1 and BRCA2 is that the prostate cancers that do happen are typically more aggressive than the typical prostate cancer in the general population,” says Suguitan. He notes that damaged BRCA genes also pose a significant risk for ovarian cancer in women.
In the general male population, the average risk of developing prostate cancer is about 11 percent. “For those with the BRCA1 mutation, the risk is increased to up to 16 percent. For the BRCA2 mutation, the risk goes up to 34 percent,” says Suguitan.
To a lesser extent, BRCA mutations also contribute to an increased risk of melanoma and pancreatic cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.