Diagnosis of male breast cancer
If you have symptoms of male breast cancer, your doctor may recommend some combination of the following diagnostic tests:
Breast physical exam mammogram ultrasound biopsy If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor may recommend additional tests, including breast MRI blood marker tests chest X-ray bone scan computerized tomography (CT) scan positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
Each time your doctors remove tissue from your breast or lymph nodes — whether as part of the initial biopsy or during surgery for breast cancer — they will send it to a lab for testing.
The tests will tell whether cancer is present and, if so, will provide information about the characteristics of the cancer. All the test results together make up your pathology report. Your doctors will discuss the results in your pathology report with you. The information in the report will help you and your doctors decide which treatments are best for you.
In most cases, you can expect the pathology report to classify breast cancer as one of the following: Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): This is the most common type of breast cancer in men and women. It begins inside the milk ducts (the tubes that carry milk to the nipples) and grows into and through the surrounding tissue inside the breast. It may or may not spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This type of breast cancer starts and stays inside the lining of the milk ducts. It is not considered life-threatening, but if left untreated it can turn into invasive cancer.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC): This type of breast cancer begins inside the milk-making glands (called lobules) and grows into the surrounding tissue inside the breast. It may or may not spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. It is exceedingly rare in men.
Inflammatory breast cancer: This is a fast-growing form of breast cancer. The first symptoms are usually reddening and swelling of the breast instead of a distinct lump. Symptoms can worsen within days or even hours and prompt treatment is important. It is exceedingly rare in men.
Paget disease: This cancer develops in the nipple and areola. The nipple and areola often become scaly, red, itchy, and irritated. It is exceedingly rare in men.
Metastatic breast cancer: Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV) is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body.
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