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Bodybuilders getting chest lumps | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Surgeons in Swansea say they have seen a big rise in the number of men with non-cancerous chest lumps caused by taking body building supplements. | Surgeons in Swansea say they have seen a big rise in the number of men with non-cancerous chest lumps caused by taking body building supplements. |
The growths, known as gynaecomastia, are not dangerous, but are normally seen in adolescent males or people taking prescribed medication. | |
In normally healthy adult men the growths can indicate other problems developing, like testicular cancer. | In normally healthy adult men the growths can indicate other problems developing, like testicular cancer. |
A new procedure is being used at Singleton Hospital to remove the lumps. | A new procedure is being used at Singleton Hospital to remove the lumps. |
Consultant Breast Surgeon Nader Khonji said the number of men presenting with lumps has risen from around one a week to almost one a day. | Consultant Breast Surgeon Nader Khonji said the number of men presenting with lumps has risen from around one a week to almost one a day. |
"There's been a significant growth," said Mr Khonji. | "There's been a significant growth," said Mr Khonji. |
"I would say I see six patients a week overall now with gynaecomastia, which is a definite increase over the last few years. | |
Michael Thomas decided to have the non-cancerous growth removed | Michael Thomas decided to have the non-cancerous growth removed |
"I think a lot of this is to do with the increased awareness of body image amongst men. | "I think a lot of this is to do with the increased awareness of body image amongst men. |
"This is leading them to go down the road of weight training and taking supplement and anabolic steroids, which ironically then cause them to develop the breast tissue," he added. | "This is leading them to go down the road of weight training and taking supplement and anabolic steroids, which ironically then cause them to develop the breast tissue," he added. |
Michael Thomas, 21, from Swansea, is one of the patients to have a lump removed. | Michael Thomas, 21, from Swansea, is one of the patients to have a lump removed. |
He had been taking creatine, a completely legal supplement to help bulk up his muscles. | He had been taking creatine, a completely legal supplement to help bulk up his muscles. |
But he then started to notice something going wrong. | But he then started to notice something going wrong. |
"There was a bit of soreness and I thought it was a bit strange," Mr Thomas said. | "There was a bit of soreness and I thought it was a bit strange," Mr Thomas said. |
"From when I first started training, I had little lumps there, but the lump on the left hand side started to get a bit bigger, so I went to the doctor." | "From when I first started training, I had little lumps there, but the lump on the left hand side started to get a bit bigger, so I went to the doctor." |
A scan revealed a non-cancerous growth in his chest, which he decided to have removed. | A scan revealed a non-cancerous growth in his chest, which he decided to have removed. |
"It's nothing too much to worry about," he said. | "It's nothing too much to worry about," he said. |
Less invasive | Less invasive |
"It wasn't too serious, but something needed to be done about it." | "It wasn't too serious, but something needed to be done about it." |
While men are able to develop breast cancer, Mr Khonji explained that though the gynaecomastia itself is not dangerous, lumps always need to be checked by doctors. | |
"In terms of breast tissue - it can be a sign of more harmful underlying conditions like testicular cancer, so it is important that all these patients are assessed," he said. | "In terms of breast tissue - it can be a sign of more harmful underlying conditions like testicular cancer, so it is important that all these patients are assessed," he said. |
Removing the lumps in men has been made simpler by using a Mammotome suction device - conventionally used for female breast biopsies. | Removing the lumps in men has been made simpler by using a Mammotome suction device - conventionally used for female breast biopsies. |
This is a far less invasive procedure for patients, which can be done in about half an hour - as opposed to open surgery which can mean a full day in hospital. | This is a far less invasive procedure for patients, which can be done in about half an hour - as opposed to open surgery which can mean a full day in hospital. |