Baylor Scott & White talks breast cancer in men

HAYS COUNTY — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while breast cancer affects mostly women, it also affects men. According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, similar to previous years, about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 530 men, or 18.93%, will die from it in 2023.

“Breast cancer is a mutation of the DNA in your body. All cancers do that. The DNA in your body mutates, that’s how cancer starts, whether it's breast, colon, prostate or pancreatic,” said Cassie Connerty, Baylor Scott and White physician assistant.

Although there is an extremely low chance of a man getting breast cancer, it can still occur.

“It’s about a 0.5 to 1% chance of getting breast cancer in the average male” explained Connerty.

Despite these facts, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center, men should still consider getting tested.

“If a male has a gene mutation — BRCA 1 or BRCA2 are the most common — then their risk of breast cancer can be up to by 15% ... it increases their risk a bit more than just the average male who doesn't have any gene mutations,” said Connerty.

According to the American Cancer Society, “a complete breast exam is important to check for lumps or suspicious areas and to feel their texture size and relationship to the skin and muscle”

Connerty said some men just wait too long before they make the decision to speak about their chest observation, leading to a later stage diagnosis.

“In studies, males wait months to years before they say anything because they think it's normal,” Connerty explained.

“Anytime a male notices a change in their breast or chest area or whatever they want to call it — a mass or pain or anything like that — they should immediately go in and talk to their doctor about it,” she said.

Whether or not they are physically active, there are indicators that both men and women may want to look out for besides the normal wear and tear on the body from physical activity.

“Most men actually feel a mass right under their nipple… that’s where most, but not all, breast cancer starts,” said Connerty.

Understanding the psychological and emotional effects can be just as important as treating the cancer itself.

“I think cancer, regardless of where in your body it is, the word cancer is extremely scary to anyone. I think men and women have different rules in their life and I think for most who feel like they are the provider of the family getting sick or getting diagnosed with something, that is extremely difficult for them,” said Connerty.

According to Connerty, societal standards make an impact on the way men perceive getting a breast cancer diagnosis.

”I think that the stigma of breast cancers in males is a big reason as to why we don’t see males right away when they notice a mass in their breast. It takes years; sometimes for them, [it could take] six, seven, eight [or] nine months after they find the mass, they casually finally mention it to their wife … or their significant other that pushes them in to get it checked out. Yes, I think talking to males will be a little bit harder talking about a lump in their breast versus a lump on their arm or a lump on their leg or something like that,” said Connerty.

Men or women with concerns about potential health issues are encouraged to reach out to their primary care provider. For more information about breast cancer, visit: www.komen.org.