Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women. But did you know that women aren’t the only ones affected by this disease? Believe it or not, men are also susceptible to breast cancer. While this occurs in men far less than in women, it is still a cause for concern. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 2,240 cases of breast cancer in men will be diagnosed in 2013. About 410 men will die this year from breast cancer. And, though it is less likely (approximately 100 times less likely) for men to develop breast cancer than women, with statistics like this, it is still a cause for concern.
In order to help you better understand this disease in men, it is important to understand the causes and why it happens.
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What is male breast cancer?
Cancer refers to any malignant tumor, or the development of a group of abnormal cells, in any part of the body. Cancer becomes harmful to the body when these abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and form lumps or tumors. Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and circulatory systems and they can release hormones that alter body function. These cells can develop in the breast tissue of a male. The development of this disease is rare in men and is quite worrisome. The collection of abnormal cells can grow quite large and take over surrounding tissues. It can also metastasize, or spread, into other parts of the body. Many men don’t know they are susceptible and in turn aren’t getting screened by a doctor the way women have been taught to do.
What causes male breast cancer?
Just like in women, we are not exactly certain what causes the development of breast cancer in men. It could be linked to genetics or environmental conditions, and recent studies are indicating that it could also be linked to gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia refers to an increased production in the amount of tissue in a man’s breast. Men naturally have breast tissue, but since their breasts are not used in the same manner as women’s, they normally don’t produce large amounts of this tissue. However, in the case of gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia, there are instances when there is an increase in the development of this tissue.
When there is an excessive amount of breast tissue, it is believed that there is a greater chance of the development of abnormal cells, which can lead to the development of breast cancer.
Signs of Gynecomastia
Typically, breast tissue in men is too small to be felt or seen. However, in cases of gynecomastia, there is usually the feeling of a growth under or around the nipple and areola. In more extreme cases, men can actually develop small breasts.
Link between Gynecomastia and Male Breast Cancer
The development of gynecomastia is linked to an excessive production of estrogen. Extra breast tissue and an increased amount of estrogen in the male body is thought to increase the chance of breast cancer developing in men. While the studies on this connection are still in the beginning stages, evidence does suggest a link. More needs to be learned and studies are continuously being conducted in order to determine the exact correlation of these two conditions.
While breast cancer occurs less in men than in women, it is still important for both genders to check themselves regularly.
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Liposuction surgery (lipoplasty), is performed to remove unwanted localized fat deposits. The ideal candidates for this procedure are patients with localized fat accumulation who have been unable to reduce these areas through diet and exercise. The reduction of adipocyte (fat cell) volume can be accomplished by diet (energy intake restriction) and exercise (directly – through work performed, indirectly – through increased BMR). These methods work by inducing a prolonged catabolic state that promotes lipolosis, and gluconeogenesis. One can lose a significant amount of body fat, through mobilizing the 9 kcal/g energy store in adipose tissue but still have a significant local accumulation specific to a body part or area. Contrary to the common misconception, exercises targeted to a specific muscle group or body area will not reduce the body fat local to the specific area. Lipoplasty removes adipose cells present as opposed to reducing individual cell volume, like is seen with a negative energy balance. It is for this reason, lipoplasty applied specific adipose stores may offer aesthetically pleasing results.
Lipoplasty procedures including LVL (large volume lipoplasty), are not substitutes for diet and exercise, as research and primary literature have shown that lipoplasty does not reduce the metabolic risk factors for coronary heart disease, or improve insulin sensitivity.
Fat excess or deficiency can have adverse effects on endocrine function. Since significant adipose tissue removal can be achieved through lipoplasty, the procedure should be taken seriously. Adipose tissue is integrally involved in coordinating a variety of biological processes including energy metabolism, neuroendocrine function, and immune function. Adipose tissue is a major site for metabolism of sex steroids and is active in both efferent and afferent signaling. Two major efferent signals produced by adipose tissue are adipsin, and leptin (endocrine factors). Adipose tissue is known to express and secrete a variety of bioactive peptides (adipokines), which act at both the local (autocrine/paracrine) and systemic (endocrine) level. Adipose tissue expresses numerous receptors that allow it to respond to afferent signals from traditional hormone systems as well as the (CNS).
Tumescent liposuction consists of injection of fluid into a specific area as preparation for liposuction surgery. This procedure sometimes helps to reduce the bleeding and facilitate the liposuction surgery. A common method of preparing tumescent solution involves the use of a 3 L bag of lactated Ringer’s solution to which 2% lidocaine 75 ml is added yielding a concentration of 0.05% lidocaine. Next, 1:1000 epinephrine 3 mL is added, resulting in a 1:1,000,000 concentration of epinephrine. The Ringer’s lactate contains 28 mEq/L of bicarbonate ion and has a resultant pH of approximately 6.5. The system is pressurized to approximately 200mm Hg. A suction tube is inserted through a small incision. The surgeon minimizes the incision scar visibility, whenever possible, by placing the incision within and parallel to skin creases on the body.
Multiple modalities for the removal of adipose tissue exist in lipoplasty. SL (syringe lipoplasty), SAL (suction assisted lipoplasty), PAL (power assisted lipoplasty), and UAL (ultrasound assisted lipoplasty), are such modalities. Limitations of traditional lipoplasty (SL / SAL), when performed on fibrotic areas, such as the back, flanks, and gynecomastia, or in secondary or LVL procedures, encouraged the development of energy-efficient devices that allow greater precision and require less physical effort to use. The introduction of UAL, PAL, VAL (Vaser-assisted lipoplasty) resulted in less trauma to the patient, as evidenced by decreased ecchymoses. According to Dr. Mordcai Blau, the surgeon will select the appropriate method, or combination thereof, as appropriate for the anatomy of the area and the tissue removal quantity required.
Areas where the liposuction procedure can be beneficial are the neck, arms, abdomen, waist, back, thighs and knees.
Figure. Lipoplasty preformed on the waist and thighs. This patient is an example of an ideal candidate, in whom, diet and exercise were not adequate to markedly reduce the size of the adipose tissue, heavily distributed in the waist and thighs.
Figure. Lipoplasty of the waist and back. A significant reduction in waist size was achieved by removing adipocyte stores in the waist and lower back. The “love handles” as patients sometimes refer to the adipose tissue located superficial to the external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique, gluteus medius, and tensor fasciae latae muscles.
Figure. A Profile view of a young female, with an adipose tissue store located superficial to the digastric, mylohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. The postoperative view taken at 1-years time, displays a feminine neck contour, with no skin redundancy. The patients skin elasticity was excellent, which enabled the skin to adjust to the new neck contour after the appropriate volume of adipose tissue was removed.
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