( MENAFN - IANS) New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) While breast cancer is often perceived as a women's disease, men also suffer from the deadly disease. However, stigma delays their diagnosis and treatment, potentially worsening outcomes, said experts on Wednesday. October is marked as Breast Cancer awareness month.
According to the World health Organization (WHO), approximately 0.5–1 per cent of breast cancers occur in men. While this percentage may seem small, it translates to thousands of men worldwide facing this diagnosis each year.
“Despite its rarity, breast cancer in men is often diagnosed later than in women. Many men are unaware that they can develop breast cancer, leading to delayed detection. However, early detection significantly improves survival rates,” Dr.
Ramesh Sarin, Senior Consultant, Surgical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centres, told IANS. “One of the biggest challenges in addressing male breast cancer is the stigma surrounding it. Many men feel embarrassed or emasculated by a diagnosis traditionally associated with women.
This stigma can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, potentially worsening outcomes,” she added. The most common type of male breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), which starts in the ducts and spreads to surrounding tissue. Other types include invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), Paget's disease of the nipple, and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive form.
According to Sarin, the symptoms of breast cancer in men ar.