The cancer staging depicts the extent and if the cancer has metastasized past its initial location. When doctors gain knowledge of the exact form and the staging of the cancer it assists them in deciding on the apt line of treatment.

Among a number of individuals the cancer could have metastasized to other areas of the body either making an entry into the blood or via the lymphatic system (the system that partly dons the role in the body’s safeguard from infection and ailment. The lymphatic system comprises of a net of lymph glands (nodes) which are interconnected via lymph fluid filled delicate ducts. The area adjacent to the lymph nodes would be examined for ascertaining the staging of the cancer.

A widely utilised staging system is illustrated below:

• Stage 1
  The tumor measuring below two centimetres in width. The lymph glands present in the underarm area have not yet shown the presence of the cancer and there are no evident indications of cancer having reached other areas of the body.
• Stage 2
  The tumor measuring two to five centimetres in width, or the lymph glands present in the axilla or underarm area are having the presence of cancer or both of these could occur. Yet, any further increase of the cancer is not seen.
• Stage 3
  The tumor is above five centimetres in width and could be affixed to the adjacent muscles or skin. The lymph glands would show the presence of the cancer, however the cancer has not yet reached further past the breast or the lymph glands present in the axilla.
• Stage 4
  Irrespective of the extent of the tumor, the cancer has reached the lymph glands and other areas of the body like the bone or lungs. This is known as secondary or metastatic breast cancer.

Grading

Grading depicts the microscopic form of the cancerous cells and offers information of the manner in which the cancer would progress. Grading is of three types:

• Grade 1 or low grade- indicating that the cancerous cells bear similarity to the healthy breast cells. Such cancerous cells are generally slow in growth and spreading.
• Grade 2 or moderate, intermediate grade.
• Grade 3 or high grade – The tumors appear anomalous have greater likelihood of swiftly growing and spreading.

Male Breast Cancer Causes

There is still inadequate information regarding the causes leading to male breast cancer, however few of the men appear to be having greater than normal likelihood of contracting this condition.

This atypical form of cancer is mostly detected among elderly men past sixty years old. It is prevalent among men having:

• A number of close kin members (both sexes) that have in the past been diagnosed with breast cancer.
• A close blood relation who has been detected with breast cancer that has metastasized to the duo breasts.
• A blood relation detected with breast cancer below forty years old.
• Those men who have a number of kin members who have been diagnosed with ovarian or bowel cancer might additionally raise the man’s chances of contracting breast cancer himself.
• In atypical cases, these males having elevated levels of oestrogen or males that faced repetitive exposure to radiation dosages –especially while they were youngsters could additionally be at a heightened risk of getting breast cancer.
• Men that are having an atypical heritable condition known as Klinefelter’s syndrome and have the presence of an additional female chromosome in their bodies are at heightened risk of getting breast cancer.

Those having a strong family history of breast cancer must seek medical advice on the same by visiting a family cancer genetic clinic that specially caters to such individuals who could be at a heightened risk of developing breast cancer.

Forms of breast cancer

Varying forms of breast cancer could inflict males in analogous ways to that observed amongst females. The commonly observed male breast cancer is known as invasive ductal carcinoma that is additionally prevalent amongst females. Other atypical forms of breast cancers are:

• Male Inflammatory breast cancer.
• Paget’s disease.
• A pre-malignant condition called the DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ).

Symptoms of male breast cancer

• The prevalent signs of male breast cancer are the palpation of lumps in the breast.
• Other symptoms that could arise are a variation in the volume or contour of the breast, an ulcerous formation on the skin, discharge appearing from the nipples or retracting nipples.
• A likely sign could also include appearance of rashes in the nipples or the adjoining parts.