Common breast cancers in men

Breast cancer is not just a risk for women. After all, men have breast tissue, lobules (milk-producing glands) and milk ducts. Wherever there are cells in the body, the risk for cancer is more or less present. Men in Ohio should know the more common types of breast cancer that they could face. These are invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ.

IDC is found in 8 out of 10 male breast cancer patients. It begins in the milk ducts and can move (“invade”) into the fatty mass of the breast, after which it may spread (“metastasize”) to other areas of the body. On the other hand, ILC, which starts in the lobules, is very rare, affecting only 2% of men with breast cancer. This is because there’s little lobular tissue in men to begin with.

DCIS, which starts in the cells lining the milk ducts, affects one in 10 male breast cancer patients. Insofar as it doesn’t spread, it’s a carcinoma “in situ,” but it does have the potential to spread. Currently, there are no definite ways to tell if DCIS in a given patient is non-invasive or simply pre-invasive.

Not all abnormal lumps in the breast denote cancer, of course. Men may develop benign tumors or a disorder called gynecomastia, where the breast tissues are enlarged.

There’s a chance that male breast cancer patients may be harmed through a doctor’s failure to diagnose their admittedly rare condition. Cancers are involved in many malpractice claims. Those who believe they have good grounds for such a claim may want a lawyer to provide an evaluation. Legal counsel could also take on all negotiations for a settlement, leaving litigation as a last resort.