It was a shocking confession, Matthew Knowles revealing to the world he was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. According to research that Breast Cancer is a disease that is found more often in women than in men.
We spoke with Dr. Venkata Parsa an Oncologist at the Regional Cancer Center who shared some astonishing facts.
“In the United States alone 99% of those who contract the disease are women while only 1% are men,” Dr. Parsa said.
Dr. Parsa also shared some early detection signs to look out for.
“ I would say lymph nodes in your armpit, lumps in your breast, skin changes in your breast, those are the most early signs that we would take a look at”, Dr. Parsa said.
With many years of experience, he is aware that most men do not frequently make doctor visits, and having treated men who have contracted the disease, he also knows men don’t get mammograms. However he suggests these tests should be done upon your next visit.
“If they have a family history or a known genital mutilation then they should be getting mammograms also, but most men if they come in for a physical examination I think it would be a good idea to have the physician do a breast exam going at least once a year,” Dr. Parsa said.
Knowles discovered he has Breast Cancer after noticing blood coming from his chest area. Dr Parsa told us that the chances of men developing breast cancer are different in our area rather than in other parts of the country.
“We have an older population here than in other parts of the country, and the incidents of most cancers including breast cancer increases with age the incidents are always higher here than in other parts of the country, and just because it is not uncommon doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen,” Dr. Parsa said.
Dr. Parsa made it very clear than yes it is rare but men should be just as cautious as women to help detect the disease sooner rather than later.
“Just because it is rare doesn’t mean that it cannot happen”
