Signs in men

Men can also develop a malignant tumour in the breast. However, this occurs only very rarely. Approximately one percent of all breast cancer patients are men.

As it is not a typical male tumour and the population is usually not aware that breast cancer can also occur in men, it is usually discovered late. The diagnosis is usually made around the age of seventy, which is significantly later than in women. Treatment in men is largely in line with the treatment methods used in women.

The signs of breast cancer in men are in principle exactly the same as in women. In most cases the disease is detected by a palpable lump. It is also true for men that harmless causes are often hidden behind the symptoms.

For example, a lump in the breast can also be a harmless swelling of the mammary glands (gynaecomastia). In the case of cancer, secretions from the nipple may also occur, as well as inflammation or retraction of the nipple or the skin of the breast in general. Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit should also be observed.

As with women, ultrasound and mammography are used for diagnosis. However, in women, the examinations can provide clearer information because in men the breast tissue is denser and is therefore seen less during the examination. Therefore, in most cases men are not diagnosed until a biopsy is taken. Breast cancer in men

Can a prick in the breast be a sign of breast cancer?

Normally, breast cancer does not cause pain in the early stages and is therefore often discovered late. In many cases, stabbing in the breast or pressure pain has harmless causes, e.g. cyclical changes in the breast or cysts. Due to the influence of hormones, the breast becomes larger and more sensitive to pain before menstruation, resulting in an unpleasant feeling of tension and pulling in the breasts.

The symptoms disappear again after a few days. Many women have cysts in their breasts. These are benign cavities that can fill with secretion.

Bulging cysts can displace the surrounding glandular tissue and cause pain. If the pain is severe, a puncture can help by sucking the fluid out of the cyst. However, most cysts fill up again after some time.

Stabbing pain can also be an indication of mastitis. Mastitis is caused by a bacterial infection and mainly affects nursing mothers. Outside the breastfeeding period, mastitis occurs rather rarely and can be a sign of breast cancer. At a very advanced stage, breast cancer can develop lung metastases that cause severe stabbing pain in the breasts. Often patients then also show additional symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing or bloody sputum.