By Santiago Ceja, Staff Writer | November 9, 2023
Photo courtesy of Associated Press
When it comes to diseases such as cancer, nobody is safe. Regarding breast cancer in particular and in acknowledgement of giving information for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a lot of men would think since they’re male, it’s a disease they can't get. But guess what? It’s actually possible. Although it’s rare, both genders are capable of developing the disease.
So what exactly is breast cancer? Just like any other cancer, it's when a lot of cells grow out of control. According to the CDC, about 1 of every 100 diagnoses in the United States is a male and the rest are female.
However, unlike a lot of other cancers, breast cancer isn't as fatal and can be treated, enabling you to continue having a normal life. However, treatment depends on the stage of breast cancer. Treatments include surgery to remove the cancer if possible, tissue expansion surgery, teletherapy and radiation therapy, and medications such as chemotherapy, estrogen, and bone health medicine.
In order to know if you or someone around you has breast cancer, symptoms include a lump in the breast that doesn't seem to go away, bloody discharge from the nipple, and major changes in the shape or texture of the nipple and/or breast. Redness, swollen parts, and simply discomfort can also be a factor that should be checked out.
Thankfully, the diagnosis of breast cancer has been declining over the years. Still, each year, 240,000 new cases are found in women and about 2,100 in men according to the CDC.
“I was in my room, and I just sobbed. I thought, ‘Well, that’s that, isn’t it?’ Like, you almost blame yourself. ‘Why didn't I do this? Why didn’t I do that?’ So I just pushed it away, because the reality seemed impossible to bear,” said Hoda Kotb, American TV personality and co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today according to the CDC.
A television host, Kotb was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and subsequently underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery to treat the cancer. It was a success and she later went on to become a mother of 2 daughters.
Breast cancer isn’t something that should be overlooked, so make sure to spread awareness and keep a healthy lifestyle.
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