When someone talks to you about breast cancer, you surely have in mind the image of a woman. And it makes sense. It is the most common cancer in the female population. But contrary to popular belief, men are also affected by this pathology. Of the 60,000 people affected each year by breast cancer in France, 1% is male. “Men also have a mammary gland, even if it is much smaller, explains Myriam Delomenie, cancer surgeon at the French Breast Institute. From the moment that there is this gland, one can develop breast cancer. »
Symptoms are identical in both genders. Lump in the chest next to the nipple, redness, deformation, pain, bloody or purulent discharge from the nipple and lymph nodes under the armpit are all clues that should raise suspicion. Especially in men. “A beginning tumor can easily go unnoticed in a woman because of her breast volume, considers Ilan Darmon, radiation oncologist at the Hartmann Institute of Radiotherapy. In their male counterparts, as the chest is less prominent, a nodule under the skin should be able to be felt more easily. »
A diagnosis at a later stage
But to be alerted, you still have to know that you can be subject to it. According to all the specialists interviewed, the vast majority of men do not know that they may one day be affected by this type of cancer. “Men feeling a lump in their chest say to themselves that they must have kicked themselves or think of an inflammation that will go away on its own,” explains Emmanuel Ricard, spokesperson for the League Against Cancer. Their first instinct is therefore not to consult their doctor but rather to let time do its thing. Except that during this period, the tumor grows. “Men are often diagnosed at a more advanced stage of the disease, testifies Ilan Darmon. The skin is then affected, a sign that the tumor has already advanced. »
Since the prognosis is closely linked to the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, the chances of survival for men are lower than those for women. If nine out of ten women survive after five years, this figure drops to eight among their male counterparts, according to Myriam Delomenie. The risk of recurrence is also higher in the latter.
No large-scale screening
To allow an earlier diagnosis, prevention is therefore essential. But if breast cancer benefits from numerous poster campaigns – including the famous Pink October -, TV spots and other leaflets in the waiting rooms of general practitioners, male silhouettes are almost never represented there.
Unlike women, men do not benefit from systematic organized screening either. “The major screening campaigns concern diseases affecting a large part of the population, explains Ilan Darmon. To speak very pragmatically, screening humans will have a significant public health cost for a fairly low result given that it concerns few people. »
Exit therefore mammograms and other systematic ultrasounds for men. “Especially since radiation promotes the appearance of breast cancer,” explains the spokesperson for the League Against Cancer. There are therefore more risks, for the general male population, in carrying out systematic screening than benefits”.
Genetic investigation needed
Rather than carrying out large-scale screening, Emmanuel Ricard then calls for favoring personalized follow-up. Because some men are more likely to be affected. Heavy alcohol consumption, obesity or occupational exposure to high temperatures favor the onset of the disease.
But a mutation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, detectable following a blood test, can also predispose to breast cancer. If 5 to 10% of female patients have this genetic mutation, this figure rises to 15 or even 20% in men. “When breast cancer is detected in a man, a genetic investigation must be carried out in order to detect whether a genetic mutation is at the origin of his pathology”, explains Myriam Delomenie. If this is the case, the patient’s daughters or sisters have a much greater risk of developing the pathology in turn. They must therefore be particularly vigilant and be monitored regularly.
The specialists interviewed encourage you to feel your chest in order to detect a possible irregularity, however, can be done. And Myriam Delomenie to summarize: “If in doubt, consult. »