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Warning-sign checks

Breast cancer in men: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Follow-up visits review symptoms, examine the breast or chest wall and lymph node areas, and manage ongoing side effects.

    Visits are usually more frequent at first.

    The schedule depends on treatment and individual risk.

    After breast-conserving surgery, follow-up generally includes mammography of the treated breast.

    Imaging of the opposite breast may be considered when an inherited harmful gene change is present.

    MRI is not routinely used for every man.

    Routine CT scans, bone scans, and blood tumor-marker tests are generally not recommended to search for recurrence after early-stage treatment when there are no symptoms.

    Testing may be ordered for concerning symptoms or examination findings.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss

The article also says

Keep an updated treatment summary listing the cancer stage, pathology results, operations, radiation, medicines, and genetic test results.

Continue primary care for vaccinations, bone health, cardiovascular risk, diabetes, and other needs.

Contact the care team between visits for a new breast or chest-wall lump, persistent bone pain, unexplained weight loss, ongoing cough, worsening shortness of breath, new neurological symptoms, or arm swelling.

These symptoms often have noncancerous causes but should be assessed.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Breast cancer in men. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.