Beach FM’s Breastie Bestie Initiative: Dr. Herzuah shares insights on Breast Cancer in male perspective

Breast cancer is often thought of as something that only affects women, as men rarely have a record of such cases.

Cancer in the breast grows in the small amount of breast tissue men have behind their nipples.

In an interview on Beach FM’s midmorning lounge, Dr. Andrew Herzuah, a medical practitioner at the Doctors In-Service Health center, provided insights into breast cancer on the male perspective.

Based on statistics, Dr. Herzuah conferred that in every 100,000 breast cancer cases per year, only 0. 4 are men, thus stressing its rareness in men as compared to women.

Dr. Herzuah asserted that the symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to that of women and provided details of the symptoms to look out for.

He says “the symptoms are similar, you still might notice a lump or swelling in the breast, you may also find some redness over the breast, some dryness or flaking of the skin over the breast, irritation of the skin over the breast, dimpling of the breast,  nipple discharge and nipple inversion as well”.

Due to its rareness in men, Dr. Herzuah acclaimed that most men are unaware about the fact that they could contract breast cancer; therefore the breast cancer sensitization exercise is important.

According to him “many men per se don’t even know they could get breast cancer. It’s pretty much not part of their thinking. Right now that there is increased awareness that I’m sure some men would take notice of a lump in their breast if it so happens”.

Dr. Herzuah further outlined the category of men who run a risk of contracting breast cancer

“Men who are elderly; 50 years and above, and also men who are on hormone therapy for other diseases, and then if you have a family history of breast cancer, and then people who are obese and also people who have a liver disease”, he said.