Prof. Patrick Kafui Akakpo, an Anatomic pathologist (a medical doctor who specialises in examining organs, tissues, and cells to diagnose disease ), has cautioned that breast cancer in men tends to spread more rapidly than in women due to the smaller size of the male breast.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show as part of Joy Cancer Awareness Month, Prof. Akakpo explained that because men have little breast tissue, cancerous growths can quickly extend to the chest wall and lymph nodes if not detected early.

“Because the breast in males is smaller, what it means is that if you have cancer sitting in it, it gets into the chest very quickly because there’s very little breast tissue for the tumour to grow,” he said.

He warned that delays in diagnosis often lead to late-stage disease, making treatment more difficult and outcomes poorer.

“When it starts, it goes very fast, and if you delay, you would notice that it reaches the stage where we say it’s late-stage — the disease is bad because it’s already left your chest and gone into your lymph nodes,” he added.

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Prof. Akakpo, who lectures at the University of Ghana Medical School, emphasised the need for men to pay attention to unusual changes in their chest area, such as lumps, nipple discharge, or skin changes, and seek medical advice promptly.

The Joy Cancer Awareness Month is part of a broader campaign to promote early detection and education on all forms of cancer, including the often-overlooked male breast cancer.

Health experts say that while male breast cancer accounts for only about 1–3% of all breast cancer cases in Ghana, awareness remains crucial, as early detection significantly improves the chances of survival.