Q How can I tell the difference between gynaecomastia and male breast cancer? Does male breast cancer seem to shrink or is what I have just going away? I think I have gynaecomastia, but I want to be sure. Please help.  

Strid, 8 April 2004

A It is best to get this checked out by your family doctor. For investigations, we also perform a breast ultrasound and if this is not enough to confirm the findings of gynaecomastia, a mammogram would be confirmatory.

There is information on the Male Breast at:
www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth/Who/allabout.htm

Enlargement of the male breast due to growth of the ducts and supporting tissues is known as gynaecomastia. Approximately 40% of adolescent boys may experience temporary enlargement of the breast, probably in response to hormones secreted by the testes. Typically this will disappear within a year or two.

Certain drugs may also induce gynaecomastia. Fat men may accumulate fat and the breasts appear enlarged but this is not true gynaecomastia.

Breast cancer can also develop in men and the signs and symptoms are similar to that found in women. Find this at: www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth/About/howcanitell.htm

Q I'm a guy who is just 30 years old but I have found out that there is a breast lump on my top left breast. The size is about 1cm. When I press on it slightly hard, it just has very little pain only. I'm worried about this right now. Could it be a cancer?

I went to see a doctor at one clinic the last few days. The doctor told me that it shouldn't be a cancer as I'm still young. The doctor has give me some antibiotics to take for a few days. I was to go back to see the doctor a month later if the breast lump was still there.

I'm still worred about this. Please advise me. Appreciate your kindness.

YSY, 8th May 2002
 

A If the lump is still in your left breast, please go back to see your doctor so that he can refer you for other tests.

The initial test in your case would probably be an ultrasound examination. This is a painless examination that is easily performed in a Radiology Department. This would help to evaluate the type of breast lump you may be having, the size as well as other features of the lump that may give an indication if this is a benign (non cancerous) or suspicious (there is suspicion of but not necessarily cancer) lump.

Depending on the ultrasound finding, you may also be advised to have a mammogram.

In males, any confirmed breast lump that is of the “fleshy” type (i.e. is made of tissue and not just a fluid filled sac) will require biopsy (testing the tissue for type of cells). In this article on what happens after an abnormal mammogram, www.radiologymalaysia.org\breasthealth\BreastImaging\abnormal.htm the steps taken to find out more about the breast lesion/lump is in principle the same for males or females with breast lesions. It gives some information about the different types of biopsies.

You are right to be concerned about a breast lump, especially since you are male and this is a very uncommon occurrence in a male. Do not hesitate to see your doctor again if the lump is still present.

Editor

Q Saya berumur 22 tahun. Belum Berkahwin.

Soalan saya:-

1. Bagaimana cara awal untuk mengetahui kanser payudara ini?

2. Adakah umur seperti saya akan menghidap kanser tersebut?

3. Dimana saya perlu untuk dapatkan rawatan untuk mengelak kanser payudara ini?

4. Apa yang perlu dielakkan untuk tidak menghidap kanser payudara ini?

MRS, 9 Mac 2002

A 1.Cara awal untuk mengetahui saudara menghidap kelainan payudara (tidak semestinya kanser ataupun barah), adalah pemeriksaan sendiri payudara (PSP). Anda boleh membaca kaedah ini di www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth/BM/PSP/index.htm

Kalau saudara memerlukan lebih tunjukajar, saudara boleh menyertai bengkel PSP di www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth/Workshops/klangvalley.htm

Bengkel ini disediakan percuma dan adalah sebahagian daripada Kempen Kesedaran Barah Payudara 2002 yang dianjurkan oleh NCWO.

2. Umur 22 tahun: Selalunya, kanser payudara menyerang jantina perempuan dan jarang sekali menyerang kaum lelaki, lebih-lebih lagi, mereka yang muda.

3. Untuk mengelakkan daripada menghidapi kanser, secara umumnya adalah untuk mengamali tabiat-tabiat yang sihat. Ini termasuk melakukan PSP setiap bulan. Untuk kaum lelaki, ini juga hanya perlu dilakukan sekali sebulan pada tarikh yang sama dari sebulan ke sebulan. Bacalah factor risiko untuk kanser payudara di
www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth/About/bcriskfactors01.htm
dan juga, kaitan kanser payudara dengan isu pemakanan di
www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth/About/diet1.htm dan
www.radiologymalaysia.org/breasthealth/About/diet2.htm

Akhir kata, kami di Radiology Malaysia akan mengemukakan lebih artikel Bahasa Malaysia tahun ini. Kami harap ini akan membolehkan lebih orang menerima manfaat daripada Pusat Sumber Kesihatan Payudara kami.

Pengarang

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