As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Male Breast Cancer may be found in:
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Male Breast Cancer.
The cause of breast cancer isn't known, but its high incidence in women implicates estrogen.
Certain predisposing factors are clear; women at high risk include those who have a family history of breast cancer, particularly first-degree relatives (mother, sister, and maternal aunt).
Other women at high risk include those who:
❑have long menstrual cycles or began menses early (before age 12) or menopause late (after age 55)
❑have taken hormonal contraceptives
❑used hormone replacement therapy for more than 5 years
❑who took diethylstilbestrol to prevent miscarriage
❑have never been pregnant
❑were first pregnant after age 30
❑have had unilateral breast cancer
❑have had ovarian cancer — particularly at a young age
❑were exposed to low-level ionizing radiation.
Recently, scientists have discovered the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations in these genes are thought to be responsible for less than 10% of breast cancers. However, these discoveries have made genetic predisposition testing an option for women at high risk for breast cancer.
Women at lower risk include those who:
❑were pregnant before age 20
❑have had multiple pregnancies
❑are Native American or Asian.
Most breast cancer deaths occur in women age 50 and older (84% of cases), and 77% of new breast cancer cases occur in this age-group. However, it may develop any time after puberty. It occurs in men, but rarely; male cases of breast cancer account for less than 1% of all cases.
The 5-year survival rate for localized breast cancer has improved because of earlier diagnosis and the variety of treatments now available. According to the most recent data, mortality rates continue to decline in White women and, for the first time, are also declining in younger Black women. Lymph node involvement is the most valuable prognostic predictor. With adjuvant therapy, 70% to 75% of women with negative nodes will survive 10 years or more compared with 20% to 25% of women with positive nodes.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
The cause of breast cancer is unknown, but its high incidence in women implicates estrogen. Certain predisposing factors are clear; women at high risk include those who:
❑ have a family history of breast cancer
❑ have long menses; began menses early or menopause late
❑ have never been pregnant
❑ were first pregnant after age 31
❑ have had unilateral breast cancer
❑ have had endometrial or ovarian cancer
❑ have been exposed to low-level ionizing radiation.
Many other predisposing factors have been investigated, including estrogen therapy, antihypertensives, high-fat diet, obesity, and fibrocystic disease of the breasts.
Women at lower risk include those who:
❑ were pregnant before age 20
❑ have had multiple pregnancies
❑ are Indian or Asian.
Breast cancer is more common in the left breast than in the right and more common in the upper outer quadrant. Growth rates vary. Theoretically, slow-growing breast cancer may take up to 8 years to become palpable at 1 cm in size. It spreads by way of the lymphatic system and the bloodstream, through the right side of the heart to the lungs and, eventually, to the other breast, the chest wall, liver, bone, and brain.
Many refer to the estimated growth rate of breast cancer as doubling time, or the time it takes the malignant cells to double in number. Survival time for breast cancer is based on tumor size and spread; the number of involved nodes is the single most important factor in predicting survival time.
Classified by histologic appearance and location of the lesion, breast cancer may be:
❑ adenocarcinoma — arising from the epithelium
❑ intraductal — developing within the ducts (includes Paget’s disease)
❑ infiltrating — occurring in parenchymatous tissue of the breast
❑ inflammatory (rare) — reflecting rapid tumor growth, in which the overlying skin becomes edematous, inflamed, and indurated
❑ lobular carcinoma in situ — reflecting tumor growth involving lobes of glandular tissue
❑ medullary or circumscribed — a large tumor with a rapid growth rate.
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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