Copyright timesnownews
A 42-year-old man has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer after he repeatedly ignored the first signs, thinking it was just “nothing”. For Mat Kelly, a lump on his chest that he noticed while he worked as a chef in Chicago was nothing serious. However, at the insistence of his wife, Kelly did visit the doctor, who advised further tests to “push for progress and answers" before his breast cancer diagnosis arrived just two days before Christmas. However, a few more tests, which included a PET scan, revealed the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and bones, predominantly his spine. Kelly immediately began chemotherapy, which was unsuccessful, and two more PET scans revealed the cancer had spread further and his tumours had grown; therefore, the doctors had to reassess his treatment options. Even though Kelly’s cancer is now incurable, he has started taking a targeted therapy drug, which is helping him “keep the cancer at bay while living life to the fullest”. “I’m currently in a state of cancer limbo, where I have no metabolic sign of cancer, but the only thing keeping it at bay is the treatment. I’m on chemo for the rest of my life every three weeks, but currently, I have no form of cancer within me, so I’ve had an amazing response to it,” Kelly told The Independent. “I’d just say to men, check your chests and check yourself and, if something’s not right, go to the doctor,” he added. Ignored the lump for the longest time Kelly said even though he knew that men do get breast cancer, he ignored the lump, which he had detected for the longest time, because he thought the condition predominantly affected older men. According to experts, even though the cause of male breast cancer is unclear, most cases affect men over the age of 60. However, when he saw his nipple start to invert, Kelly did book a doctor’s appointment. What is male breast cancer? Male breast cancer is an extremely rare form of cancer that affects the breast tissue in men, with the most common type being invasive ductal carcinoma. While treatments are similar to those for women—including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy—it is often diagnosed at a later stage in men, highlighting the importance of recognizing the signs. Doctors say it is so rare that breast cancer can be easy to dismiss a lump in your breast as no big deal if you are male. But it is important to get all suspicious lumps checked by the doctor. What causes male breast cancer? According to doctors, breast cancer in men happens when the DNA inside breast cells changes or mutates, and the cells begin to multiply rapidly and don’t die. Eventually, the cancer cells form masses known as tumours. Parts of the tumour may even break off and spread to other body parts through your lymphatic system or bloodstream. Scientists continue to research what causes healthy cells to transform into cancer cells in the first place. There are many risk factors that increase your breast cancer risk, including: Age Biological family history Genes High estrogen levels Testicular issues Radiation therapy
