what causes breast cancer?

Question

what causes breast cancer in men?

what causes breast cancer in men?

Answer 1

Here is some information from the John W Nick Foundation that exists to educate the public about this disease:

"What are the causes and risk factors of male breast cancer?

As with women, aging is one of the largest risk factors behind male breast cancer.

Statistics show that the average male diagnosed with breast cancer is 65 years old. Diseases of the liver can put men at risk for developing breast cancer because the liver plays an important role in sex hormone metabolism. Men who have underlying estrogen treatment can have a slightly higher risk for breast cancer. Klinefelters's syndrome, which is a congenital condition, also puts men at an increased risk because it increases estrogen levels and lowers androgen levels.

The breast cancer genes -- BRCA1 and BRCA2 -- can be a cause of male breast cancer. 5% to 10% of all breast cancers are caused by inheritance of an abnormal gene. Today many thousands of Ashkenazic Jewish women and men around the world carry that mutated gene. Some of the female descendants who have inherited the mutated BRCA1 gene have developed or will develop breast or ovarian cancer. Women who inherit abnormal (mutant) forms of the breast cancer gene many have up to an 85% chance of contracting breast cancer and a 44% chance of contracting ovarian cancer in their lifetime. Men who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation also have an elevated risk of breast cancer, though not as high as the risk faced by women. In their normal forms, the BRCA genes control cell growth and suppress cancer. Ashkenazi Jewish women may carry two specific mutations which have not been found in the non-Jewish population.

Family history is an important risk factor for heriditary breast cancer. When reviewing your family history, it is important to consider both your father's and your mother's side of the family since an altered gene can be inherited from either parent. Gather information on all types of cancer because other cancers can be associated with hereditary breast cancer. Certain "red flags" may suggest a higher risk for hereditaray breast cancer. These include:

* Breast cancer diagnosis before age 50
* Breast cancer in multiple relatives on either the mother's or father's side of the family
* Breast and ovarian cancer in the same person
* Ovarian cancer at any age
* Male breast cancer
* Bilateral breast cancer(cancer in both breasts)
* Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry (Eastern Euopean/Russian descent) with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer
* A relative with a positive genetic test for BRCA1 or BRCA2.

Genetic counseling and genetic testing for mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are currently available. Genetic counselors interpret information about genetic diseases or disorders, analyze inheritance patterns and risks of occurrence, identifly high-risk family members, and review available options for prevention, screening, and genetic testing."

Answer 2

If we knew, there would be an all-out research battle to get a cure on the market.

BTW: The Avon Breast Cancer March is just around the corner. Help out any way you can.

Answer 3

Prostitution and homosexuality are the leading causes of breast cancer.

Answer 4

Who knows.. it seems these days that they find one thing which causes breast cancer, then the next day they say its another.

Answer 5

two genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 which are on chromosomes 13 and 17. mutations occur, etc.etc. it can be hereditay, or not- enviromental etc.

Answer 6

abnormal cell growth

Answer 7

if we knew what caused it we could prevent it !

Answer 8

if we knew then we could have a cure

Answer 9

not wearing a bra

Answer 10

I dunno I thnk it's heridatary.