Men With Large Breasts Face Higher Breast Cancer Risk – Expert
Uche Nwokwu, coordinator of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, says men with large breasts are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Mr. Nwokwu told journalists on Saturday in Abuja that men undergoing hormone therapy to alter their body physiology to appear more feminine are also at increased risk.
“When men take hormone therapies to alter their physiology, the more active female hormones can expose them to a higher risk of breast cancer,” he said.
He explained that because men have breast tissue, they can develop breast cancer, although the condition is rare.
Confirming that such cases have occurred in Nigeria, the NCCP coordinator stressed the importance of awareness.
According to him, breast development in men can be triggered by an increase in estrogen, the hormone responsible for breast growth, especially when testosterone levels decrease.
He said, “The hormone that women have that makes their breasts develop is also present in men.
“The difference is that testosterone, which is higher in men, suppresses that hormone; so when there’s an imbalance between the two, whichever is higher tends to manifest more.”
He added that when estrogen levels in men become dominant, it could lead to gynecomastia (the enlargement of male breast tissue), which increases the risk of breast cancer.
“Once there’s a fluctuation that disrupts the body’s ability to regulate the cell ducts, it can trigger breast cancer,” he said.
Mr. Nwokwu noted that the risk factors for breast cancer in men are similar to those in women.
He, however, said women are more prone due to their more developed breast tissue and cell ducts.
The expert said men with larger breasts face a higher risk than those with average breast size, though no man is completely exempt.
“The reason is simple: anything that lowers male hormones, whether due to sickness or environmental factors, can cause an increase in female hormones.
“That imbalance can result in gynecomastia and, by extension, raise the risk of breast cancer,” he said.
He also identified genetics as a factor: “People who come from families with a genetic predisposition need to be cautious, as even slight environmental triggers can elevate their risk.”
On available data, Mr. Nwokwu said figures remain low partly because men often do not recognize the symptoms of breast cancer until they receive a proper diagnosis.
He acknowledged the lack of conclusive data on the disease in men, saying it reflects a broader challenge in cancer data collection.
However, the NCCP coordinator said the federal government has designated cancer as a reportable disease to improve data collection.
To reduce the risk of breast cancer, Mr. Nwokwu advised men to regularly check their bodies for lumps or unusual growths, especially in the breast area.
(NAN)
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