Male and Confused. Symptoms don't match Results

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this.

For us gals, when ultrasound is inconclusive, we can do a breast MRI. I'm not sure if that is offered/available for men.

Did the doctor indicate what may be causing the gynecomastia? New meds? New supplements?

The numbness and tightness sound nerve related and swelling could be pressing on nerves. I wish I had more to offer. Short of a second or third opinion....maybe someone else will post. Virtual, gentle hugs.

Hi Superman Im sorry for the stressful time you are going through. Hopefully others will stop by with ideas and their own experiences soon.

In the meantime, have you looked through the Mayo Clinic page on Gynecomastia? I'm sure you have as we all Google the heck out our worries but it seems to have a great list of causes for this condition.

Do any of those reasons make sense in your case?

Sure hope you can get further answers and a sense of assurance from your doctors that this indeed is what you are dealing with.

Please keep advocating for yourself with them. If this is truly Gynecomastia it seems blood tests could help confirm since it appears directly related to elevated Estrogen levels, maybe ask for lab work too?

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From Mayo:

Health conditions

Several health conditions can cause gynecomastia by affecting the normal balance of hormones. These include:

• Hypogonadism. Conditions that interfere with normal testosterone production, such as Klinefelter syndrome or pituitary insufficiency, can be associated with gynecomastia.
• Aging. Hormone changes that occur with normal aging can cause gynecomastia, especially in men who are overweight.
• Tumors. Some tumors, such as those involving the testes, adrenal glands or pituitary gland, can produce hormones that alter the male-female hormone balance.
• Hyperthyroidism. In this condition, the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine.
• Kidney failure. About half the people being treated with dialysis experience gynecomastia due to hormonal changes.
• Liver failure and cirrhosis. Changes in hormone levels related to liver problems and cirrhosis medications are associated with gynecomastia.
• Malnutrition and starvation. When your body is deprived of adequate nutrition, testosterone levels drop while estrogen levels remain the same, causing a hormonal imbalance. Gynecomastia can also happen when normal nutrition resumes.

Herbal products

Plant oils, such as tea tree or lavender, used in shampoos, soaps or lotions have been associated with gynecomastia. This is probably due to their weak estrogenic activity.

Risk factors

Risk factors for gynecomastia include:

• Adolescence
• Older age
• Use of anabolic steroids or androgens to enhance athletic performance
• Certain health conditions, including liver and kidney disease, thyroid disease, hormonally active tumors, and Klinefelter syndrome

Medications

A number of medications can cause gynecomastia. These include:

• Anti-androgens used to treat an enlarged prostate, prostate cancer and other conditions. Examples include flutamide, finasteride (Proscar, Propecia) and spironolactone (Aldactone, Carospir).
• Anabolic steroids and androgens, which are prescribed by doctors for certain conditions or are sometimes used illegally by athletes to build muscle and enhance performance.
• AIDS medications. Gynecomastia can develop in men who are HIV-positive and receiving a treatment regimen called highly active antiretroviral therapy. Efavirenz (Sustiva) is more commonly associated with gynecomastia than are other HIV medications.
• Anti-anxiety medications, such as diazepam (Valium).
• Tricyclic antidepressants.
• Antibiotics.
• Ulcer medications, such as the over-the-counter drug cimetidine (Tagamet HB).
• Cancer treatment.
• Heart medications, such as digoxin (Lanoxin) and calcium channel blockers.
• Stomach-emptying medications, such as metoclopramide (Reglan).

superman, at this point given the information you have provided, I would trust them. I'd suggest to get diabetes & hypothyroidism under control (Type 2 DM can sometimes be reversed if dealt with early so leap on that quickly!) & start to tackle the obesity. Just make a note on the calendar to check the gynecomastia in 6 months but it's very possible that this is simply a symptom of the other health issues.

All of us here can get cancer (or recurrence) at any time. Some of the suggestions made here make sense to me. Since you've disclosed the other issues you are dealing with, it would be worthy to work on the diabetes and weight and follow up in 6 months on the cancer concern. Cancer is not the only thing that can kill us. Untreated diabetes is equally bad. Weight impacts so much of our physiology--blood pressure, joint pain, etc...so it is equally worthy of concern. Breast cancer detected in 6 months would not alter your life expectancy. You sound very worried and who can blame you. Not knowing is frightening. I think that is why many gals get more stressed the further out we are. The not knowing if our cancer will come back. But we try to move past that because that affects our quality of life while we are trying to have a full life. Waiting for cancer is no good.

It sounds like you will address your other issues. In 6 months, the breast swelling may resolve and you'll be moving towards an over all healthier life. Focus on taking care of yourself and assume you have great years to live. Keep in touch with the docs for follow ups; at some point, if enough people tell you it isn't cancer, you need to move past it. There's always the question of "if" or "did they get it wrong..." sure...for any of us...Best to you.

Superman - Waiting and the anxiety that goes along with it is such a hard part of any medical unknowns, especially when it comes to cancer. I totally understand your concerns and your wanting to know "now". I've been feeling that for the past year and a half, wish it was easier to deal with and put behind us but unfortunately it's another part of the process.

IMO from what you have shared here, doctors have taken all the steps possible (mammo, ultrasound, labs) and have to date ruled out Breast Cancer. That is reassuring. They are saying there is no evidence seen pointing to Breast Cancer.

I think what Moth was meaning about the 6 months comment is that if this issue/Gynecomastia continues to increase or change despite therapy to manage the causes (weight, diabetes, and hypothyroidism) it would be logical to reassess in 6 months. That doesn't mean they have missed something or are wrong today, it just means that another review or Mammo seems logical if the condition is not responding to management after a substantial time period.

Make sense?

Hopefully tomorrow when you see your doctor they will be able to help you better understand treatments that can help with the pain and distress you are dealing with. Fingers crossed that therapy for your other health conditions will lead to the elimination of Bynecomastia for you soon.

Superman17, I’ve read through this thread and, as a guy who has listened to many men air their breast cancer concerns here over the past five years I’d have to second MinusTwo’s opinion.