The Benefits of Performing Male Self Breast Exams

Video Transcript

"The overall ratio of female breast cancer to male breast cancer in the United States is approximately 100 to 1. Although that number sounds small it does mean that approximately 1,700 to 1,800 men in the United States will get diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Unfortunately men don't associate breast cancer symptoms to the disease and thereby often allow breast cancer to grow and spread to a later stage. The early detection of breast cancer is critical because the early detection of breast cancer allows us to have less evasive treatment options and higher survival rates. It is very important for a man to check their breast on a monthly basis to look for changes in breast tissue. The signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to that of women. Very often a man will detect a lump, a hard mass in their breast, or skin puckering or dimpling similar to that found in women. Unfortunately because men don't associate these symptoms to breast cancer, breast cancer is allowed to grow and spread in men and in this case the cancerous tumor is spreading into the chest wall which unfortunately is often the case in later stage male breast cancer. If a man is looking for a reason to begin performing his monthly breast cancer exam, it is important to know that male breast cancer today is on the rise. As a matter of fact the incidence of male breast cancer has increased every year since 1975. Yes men do get breast cancer as well so it is important that you perform your monthly breast self exam."