Breast cancer can strike men, too

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the focus seems to be on the number of women who will develop and possibly die from this disease. What is overlooked, unfortunately, is that breast cancer does not strike only women. Although the rate is much lower, breast cancer can strike men as well.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 2,030 men will be diagnosed with the disease this year. Symptoms may include: skin dimpling or puckering; development of a new indentation in the nipple; redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin; or a spontaneous discharge of a clear or bloody liquid from the nipple. Risk factors include: a family history of the disease, exposure to radiation treatments to the chest as a child or young adult, obesity, excessive alcohol use, and age (60-70). Mammograms are not recommended on a routine basis for men because it is much more rare, but men need to be aware that it can happen to them.

Suzanne G. Hlotke

Carol Stream