Bridging the Gap

MALE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS GROUP

Lowell Gere, founder and president of Bridging the Gap states the importance of support for men diagnosed with this traditionally women's disease. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1% of breast cancers diagnosed will be among the male population. Often times, men wait to be diagnosed until it is too late and the disease has spread. Men often times feel embarrassment being diagnosed with a traditionally "feminine" disease and are hesitant to openly discuss it. Bridging the Gap provides a way for men to voice their concerns and receive much needed support.

Last October, Becky Olson, cofounder and president of Breast Friends spoke at the Pink Ribbon Society Luncheon in Indiana where she addressed the issue of men with breast cancer. It takes a lot of courage for men to come forward and openly discuss the disease.

For information on how to start a chapter in your city, or just to find a friendly and supportive voice, please email Lowell at:lagere@earthlink.net directly.

WHAT IS MALE BREAST CANCER? Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that has developed from cells of the breast. This normally occurs in men as well as women. It is estimated by the American Cancer Society that in 2005, about 1690 men will be disagnosed and about 460 will die of breast cancer.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MALE BREAST CANCER:

DEVELOPMENT OF LUMP OR SWELLING IN THE BREAST

SKIN DIMPLING OR PUCKERING

NIPPLE RETRACTION (TURNING INWARD)

REDNESS OR SCALING OF THE NIPPLE OR BREAST SKIN

DISCHARGE FROM THE NIPPLE

If any of the signs are present, see your doctor and ask for a biopsy to be performed if an explanation of the problem is not apparent.

BIOPSY: This is the test to see if a tumor is benign or malignant.

Needle biopsy- The removal of fluid or tissue with a very fine needle for examination under a microscope.

Core biopsy- The removal of tissue with a wide needle for microscopic examination.

Excisional biopsy- Surgical removal of a lump or suspicious area for examination under a microscope.

SURVIVAL STATISTICS: Survival rates for men and women are equal. For stages 0 and 1 the five-year survival rate is 98% and 97%. The survival rate decreases with advanced stages to as low as 14%. Improvements in treatment often result in a more favorable outlook for more recently diagnosed patients.

Early detection and treatment are the important words to remember.

TREATMENT: There are four types of treatments in use.

SURGERY- Removal of the tumor, part or all of the breast and in some cases, removal of lymph nodes.

RADIATION- Uses high-dose x-rays to kill cancer cells

CHEMOTHERAPY- The use of drugs to kill cancer cells.

HORMONE THERAPY -The use of drugs that change the way hormones work. The most common of these drugs is Tamoxifen.

METASTASES: These are satellite tumors of a breast cancer that has spread from the site where it began to a lymph node or distant organ such as the lung, liver or brain.

RISK FACTORS: Risk factors for breast cancer in men may include the following:

Exposure to radiation

Having a disease related to high levels of estrogen in the body, such as cirrhosis (liver disease) or Klinefelter's syndrome (a genetic disorder)

Having several female relatives who have had breast cancer, especially relatives who have an alteration of the BRCA2 gene.

Information and statistics were obtained from literature of the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY and the NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE.

Our support group meets the first Thursday of each month Good Samaritan Hospital. For more information, contact: LowelI Gere @ 503-723-9087; or email lagere@earthlink.net or Dave Lyons @ 503-844-5949; or Bob Miller @ 503-661-3688.