Breast Cancer in Males: How Men Should Conduct a Self Exam for Breast Cancer

If you think that breast cancer do not hit men, you are wrong. Males are not totally safe against breast cancer.

Do you know that one in every 100 cases of breast cancer is found in men? Normally unnoticed and ignored, men only discover they have cancer when it is already deadly. According to The American Cancer Society, men over 60 years old, exposed to radiation therapy, and with family history of cancer have more risk. Nevertheless, all men are potentially at risk of acquiring breast cancer and must start doing breast self-exams in order to promptly detect the disease.

Breast self-examination is the most important tool in the early detection of breast cancer. Early detection is the key towards successful cancer treatment. Doing a monthly self-exam for breast cancer is recommended, and here are the steps that men should follow to be able to know if they are safe from breast cancer:

Step 1: In the shower, move your hand gently over every part of each breast. Check for any lump, knot, or tightening. Use the right hand for the left breast, and vice versa.

Step 2: Before a mirror, visually check for lumps and depressions. Then placing palms on hips, press down firmly and flex your chest.

Step 3: Before a mirror, raise your arms. Changes in the contour of each breast, as well as swelling and changes in your nipples, must be noted.

Step 4: Lying down, place a pillow under your right shoulder and lay your right hand on the forehead with the elbow bent. Use your left hand in examining your right breast. Move your hand around the area of the breast. Put the pillow on the left shoulder next, and repeat this step on the other side.

Step 5: Lying down with fingers flat, use your left hand to press on your right breast by mimicking a clock. Any lump or depression must be noted. A ridge of firm tissue under the lower curve of the breast is normal. Move an inch toward the nipple and examine your breast outward. Repeat with the right hand on the left breast.

Step 6: Lying down, squeeze the nipple of every breast. Check for any discharge that is clear or bloody. Report any lump, thickening, or discharge from the breasts to your physician immediately.

Symptoms of breast cancer in men are usually bloody nipple discharges, nipple inversion, breast lumps, and local itching or pain. Any symptom must not be ignored and must be duly brought to the doctor for further examinations.

Remember that early detection is the key to better treatment and less medical expense, so be sure to examine yourself regularly.

Sources:

Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD, "Male Breast Cancer", MedicineNet.com
"Breast Cancer in Men", CancerBackUp.org.uk