Treatment For Breast cancer in men
June 15th, 2007 by 
Eric
Due to breast cancer in men being so rare, there have been very little research looking into treatments for this condition. However it does behave in a similar way to breast cancer in women, and so is usually treated in much the same way. A combination of treatments are often used.
Surgery
For most men surgery is the first line of treatment. However, men cannot usually have just the lump removed (lumpectomy). This is because the amount of breast tissue is small in males, and because the tumour is often near to or under the nipple. Most men having surgery need to have a mastectomy (which is the removal of all of the breast tissue and the nipple). Some or all of the lymph nodes under the arm are likely to be removed as well.
Hormonal therapy
Most breast cancers need the hormone oestrogen in order to grow. Oestrogen is the female sex hormone, however men do have small amounts circulating in their bloodstream. Hormone therapy is very effective in reducing the amount of oestrogen in the body and is used to try to prevent the cancer reoccuring following surgery. Hormonal therapy may also be used to reduce the size of the cancer if it returns after initial surgery.
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is the hormonal therapy that is commonly used to treat breast cancer. It works by attaching itself to the oestrogen receptors on the surface of the cancer cells. This prevents oestrogen from entering the cells and can therefore stop cancer cells from growing or dividing. Men usually have similar side effects to women who take tamoxifen (such as hot flushes or loss of sex drive). However, they may also experience difficulty in achieving erections.
Aromatase inhibitors such as letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane. In men, oestrogen is made by the conversion of the male sex hormones ( androgens ). This conversion is carried out by the enzyme aromatase . Aromatase inhibitors are drugs that work by blocking aromatase and so blocking the formation of oestrogen. If aromatase inhibitors are used, they usually need to be given with drugs such as goserelin (Zoladex®) that decrease the production of androgens.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer ( cytotoxic ) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used after surgery if your doctors feel that there is a high risk of cancer cells having escaped from the breast to other parts of the body before the cancer was removed.
Chemotherapy is usually given if cancer cells found in the lymph nodes under the arm, or if the cancer has spread beyond the breast. The chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer in men are the same as those used to treat women with breast cancer. Your doctor will usually discuss with you whether chemotherapy is necessary in your situation.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays to destroy the cancer cells. It may be used to reduce the chance of the cancer returning at the site of the scar after surgery. Radiotherapy may also be used to relieve pain or discomfort caused by a cancer that has spread to other parts of the body; for example, the bone.
