The Sunday News
Charity Chikara, Sunday News Reporter
A significant number of men who get breast cancer approach health institutions when the situation has gone out of hand as they will be in denial as the condition is mostly associated with women.
Although rare, breast cancer in men grows in the small amount of breast tissue men have behind their nipples and studies reveal that it usually affects men over 60 years of age.
While there are a number of myths that surround breast cancer treatment, symptoms and diagnosis, the most popular one is that this condition only affects women. Although a rare occurrence in men, studies have shown that it is important to watch out for the signs and symptoms of this condition in both men and women.
Monitoring and Evaluation Co-ordinator at Cancer Association of Zimbabwe Mr Lovemore Makurirofa said breast cancer in men was often severe as a result of prolonged denial.
“It has more to do with the perception of the males. The statistics also show that breast cancer is more common among women, the ratio is 1:100. In as much as breast cancer is common among females than males there is a need to educate men that they too can develop breast cancer. In males it is usually severe and the reason is that they take time to understand the condition and even to accept the diagnosis. Their denial period is very long,” he said.
Mr Makurirofa said the common misconception about breast cancer in men was the thinking that since men do not have bulging breasts like women, they cannot get breast cancer.
He said the outlook for breast cancer in men varies depending on how far it had spread by the time it would be diagnosed.
“Symptoms of breast cancer in men include a lump in the breast, usually hard, painless and does not move around the breast, the nipple turning inwards, fluid oozing from the nipple and nipple discharge which may be streaked with blood,” he said.
He said it might be possible to treat breast cancer successfully if it’s detected early.
He noted that it was very important to target platforms where men were mobilised for male circumcision or gender-based programmes and share information on breast cancer.
Mr Makurirofa said there were few male breast cancer survivors who were willing to share their stories with the public, therefore word of mouth alone cannot easily cement the reality of male breast cancer to other men.
“In as much as statistics are showing that males are developing breast cancer, very few survivors are keen to go public about their condition. As it stands, I only know of one man who has since went public about it. Female survivors go public about their stories which spreads stronger messages and raise more awareness,” he said.
He added that both women and men should take preventative measures to avoid the development of breast cancer.
The exact cause of breast cancer in men is not known, but there are some things that increase one’s risk of getting it such as genetics and or family history, conditions that can increase the level of oestrogen in the body including obesity, amongst many.
According to Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry latest annual report dated 2017, the total number of all new cancer cases recorded among Zimbabweans of all races was 7 659 comprising 3 270 (42,7percent) males and 4 389 (57,3 females).
