HealthTree Blog

Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer found in women, although it is possible for men to get breast cancer (among them are actor Richard Roundtree and former KISS drummer Peter Criss). However, when detected early, breast cancer is very treatable.

When considering the symptoms of breast cancer, many people automatically think of finding a lump or swelling as one of the primary symptoms. There are other symptoms, however, including pain in the breast, a sensation of unusual heaviness or fullness in one or both breasts, and pain in the chest area.

Many times, however, breast cancer exhibits no symptoms or by the time symptoms are noticed, the breast cancer has reached a more serious stage. It is for this reason that women are encouraged to get regular mammograms, as they can often find cancer while it is still in its very earliest stages.

As mentioned earlier, men can also get breast cancer. The symptoms for them are the same as for women. Men who find a swelling or thickening of either or both breasts, or experience heaviness or fullness in their breasts should not hesitate, but should consult a health care practitioner immediately.

Remember, breast cancer knows no gender. Men have breast tissue just like women do; only they don’t have as much. Even so, breast cancer can occur in the small amount of breast tissue men have. Treatments for breast cancer include mastectomy (removal of the breast and sometimes underlying and adjacent lymph nodes), chemotherapy, and radiation. The use of monoclonal antibodies therapy as one of the types of breast cancer treatments is also becoming more widespread.

Treatments are, of course, more successful when breast cancer is detected early. And, because of improvements in the way treatments are administered, they are easier to tolerate than they were in the past. Treatments can be very successful in reducing or even eradicating breast cancer. And, because there are a number of treatments that can be used, it is possible to sometimes use more than one at the same time.