Specialists warn that stigma and limited awareness are delaying diagnosis among men, urging those who notice unusual breast changes to seek medical attention rather than ignore symptoms.
Men are being urged to seek medical attention when they notice unusual breast changes, as specialists warn that stigma, limited awareness and the misconception that breast cancer only affects women are contributing to delayed diagnosis.
Max Tumusiime, Assistant Clinical Head of Radiology and Imaging at Mulago National Referral Hospital, says about 40 men present with breast cancer in Uganda annually, accounting for approximately one per cent of all breast cancer cases.
Tumusiime says public awareness campaigns have largely focused on women, leaving many men unaware that they can also develop the disease.
“Men are usually forgotten, or men don't actually know what breast cancer is. Each time we talk about breast cancer, most people look at the females. They think breasts are only for women,” he says.
He adds that some men ignore breast lumps because they fear embarrassment or believe the condition cannot affect them. Others may assume the changes are caused by an infection or an injury, delaying medical assessment.
Tumusiime urges men to seek medical attention whenever they notice unusual changes in their breasts instead of dismissing the symptoms or attributing them to other causes.
“Men, if you have a lump in your breast, please, don't keep it. Don't feel ashamed. Don't feel like when I go, they're going to judge me,” he says.
He explains that medical imaging can help specialists assess suspicious breast changes and determine whether further investigations are necessary.
Warning signs include a breast lump, persistent soreness, changes in the nipple, skin dimpling, redness, unusual nipple discharge and lumps in the armpit. Changes that give the skin an orange-peel appearance may also require medical assessment.
The specialist cautions men against attributing such symptoms to witchcraft or other unverified explanations, emphasising the importance of visiting a health facility for proper diagnosis.
He says detecting breast cancer early improves the chances of successful treatment, particularly before the disease spreads to other parts of the body.
Tumusiime identifies several factors that may increase a man's risk of developing breast cancer, including older age, a family history of the disease, inherited genetic mutations and certain medical conditions.
Men with a family history of breast cancer may face an increased risk, particularly where inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are present.
Obesity is another risk factor because excess body fat can increase oestrogen levels, a hormone associated with breast cancer development.
Other risk factors include liver cirrhosis, which can disrupt hormone regulation, and previous radiation exposure to the chest, particularly during treatment for other cancers.
Tumusiime notes that male breast cancer is more commonly diagnosed in older men, although the disease can affect men outside this age group. He says awareness of the symptoms is therefore important regardless of age.
He argues that reducing delays in diagnosis requires deliberate public education that includes men in breast cancer awareness campaigns.
Men should be encouraged to discuss breast health openly and seek medical assessment without fear of stigma or ridicule, he says.
Although male breast cancer accounts for a small proportion of cases, Tumusiime warns that overlooking symptoms can have serious consequences.