What are the Symptoms of Men Breast Cancer? How to Diagnose Breast Cancer in Men?

Table of Contents

Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Men

The symptoms of breast cancer in men are more like that in women.
If you have noticed the following changes on your breast(s), you should immediately contact your doctor:

A lump felt in the breast
Nipple pain
An inverted nipple
Nipple discharge (clear or bloody)
Sores on the nipple and areola (the small ring of color around the center of the nipple)
Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm

How to Diagnose Breast cancer in men

Earlier diagnosis can make a life-saving difference!
Tests such as MRI, blood test, chest X-ray and bone scan are helpful to check the spread of cancer in breasts to other parts of the body. Once you have noticed the above symptoms, one of the following tests will be done to diagnose cancer:

Mammogram:
In this test, an X-ray picture of the breast is taken. Two pictures are taken of the breast after it is compressed between two glass plates. One image is shot from the top and the second picture is taken from the side. An expert will detect the abnormality if there is any. He or she may then decide to get other pictures of a certain area. These are called spot or magnification views.
Ultrasound:
Ultrasound is helpful in determining the presence of a solid lump. It cannot detect whether that lump is cancerous or not. Ultrasound sends high-frequency sound waves through your breast and converts them into images on a viewing screen. Ultrasound complements other tests. If an abnormality is seen on mammography or felt by physical exam, ultrasound is the best way to find out if the abnormality is solid (such as a benign fibroadenoma or cancer) or fluid-filled (such as a benign cyst).
Nipple discharge examination:
If you have been getting nipple discharge, it may not be a good sign. The discharged fluid will be collected and examined under a microscope to see if any cancer cells are present.
Biopsy:
A biopsy is helpful to distinguish normal tissue from cancer tissue. If cancer is present, the biopsy also helps your doctor to determine the size, type, and kind of breast cancer. Biopsies are performed on any kind of abnormality that your doctor can feel or that looks suspicious. Various techniques are used to biopsy tissue, and it’s likely that your surgeon will try to use the least invasive procedure possible while making sure that enough tissue is removed to make a clear diagnosis. Biopsy further has four different variations – Fine needle biopsy, Stereotactic needle biopsy, Incisional biopsy, and Excisional biopsy.