Breast cancer does not only affect women. For the first time, an American researcher has focused on the reactions of men when faced with this disease. Edie Pituskin will reveal the findings at the annual men’s health conference held from October 6 to 8, 2005, in Atlanta, USA.
Like women, men have breast tissue, which means they can develop breast cancer. Although it accounts for only 1 in 100 breast cancer cases, the disease in men develops similarly to that in women and primarily affects those over the age of 60.
The most common type of breast cancer in men appears suddenly in the breast tissue with symptoms such as a small, painless lump in the breast and slight discharge from the nipple. Male breast cancer is treated similarly to female breast cancer.
Ms. Edie Pituskin is a nurse at the Cross Cancer Institute and a student at the University of Alberta (Canada). She conducted research on 20 men diagnosed with breast cancer, aged between 44 and 85. She explored what happened in their lives after diagnosis and their reactions to society and family.
The initial reaction was shock. “Men often do not realize that they can get this disease,” Ms. Pituskin said. This was followed by varying reactions, from men who were reluctant to share their condition to those who wanted to raise awareness among others.
One man decided to advocate for his peers, even removing his shirt at work to show others his condition. Another reported feeling completely devastated, with no sexual desire for women. Most confirmed that they could not swim without wearing a shirt due to fear of attracting attention.
With this research, Ms. Pituskin hopes to raise awareness among men about this disease, not only encouraging them to seek medical advice but also helping healthcare professionals gain specialized knowledge about the disease for early diagnosis.