Men too should not ignore breast cancer symptoms: Experts

Lucknow: Men experiencing lumps around the chest, especially if the swelling grows or is accompanied by pain, must seek medical consultation, as these could be early signs of breast cancer, said experts at ‘Aaroh 2026’, an awareness programme organised by the department of endocrine surgery at KGMU and the Lucknow Breast Cancer Support Group at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Convention Centre on Wednesday.

Doctors said although breast cancer in men was relatively uncommon, there was a noticeable rise in cases. Prof Anand Mishra from the endocrine surgery department said, “Male breast cancer may be associated with advancing age, family history, genetic mutations, obesity, hormonal imbalance, liver disease, certain testicular disorders and trauma or injuries to the chest.”

More than 300 breast cancer survivors from various districts of UP and neighbouring states attended the event themed ‘Inspiring Life Beyond Cancer’, aimed at spreading awareness, encouraging early detection and reducing fear and stigma. Chief guest actor Padmini Kolhapure stressed hope and resilience.

KGMU Vice Chancellor Prof Sonia Nityanand highlighted the importance of cancer-specific support groups and said financial constraints should not prevent patients from accessing quality treatment as several govt schemes and patient-friendly facilities were available at KGMU. Dr Pragya Tripathi underlined the critical role of family support in cancer treatment.

Convener of the support group, Prof Anand Mishra, said affordable world-class treatment for breast cancer was available at govt institutions like KGMU, and patients need not travel far or incur heavy expenses for treatment. A fashion walk by breast cancer survivors and a Kathak presentation by survivor Neha Singh were highlights of the event.