I've been on this medicine for 3 years and recently I found a lump in my breast along with swelling and tenderness. My primary doctor said to wait 6 months... however I don't think waiting is the answer... I am going to see a surgeon this week, just to make sure all is ok... so can this medicine cause this problem?
Finasteride - Can it cause breast cancer in males?
Question posted by DonKee on 13 June 2013
Last updated on 15 December 2017
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Answers
DrDonovan
15 Jan 2015
In general, Finasteride can cause breast enlargement in some men. The medical term for this is "gynecomastia"
Anyone using finasteride should examine their breast tissue monthly for changes, including enlargement and lumps and report any changes to the prescribing physician.
To date, there is no convincing evidence of an association between finasteride use and male breast cancer.
MEDICAL REFERENCE
Bird ST et al. Male breast cancer and 5 alpha reductase inhibitors finasteride and dustasteride. J Urology; 190:1811-4
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Jeff Donovan MD PhD FRCPC FAAD
US & Canadian board-certified Dermatologist
Toronto, Canada
gi1491
15 Dec 2017
If you already have gynecomastia symptoms from earlier pro hormons, will finasteride make the gynecomastia worse?
meroshow
14 June 2013
your breast become bigger if u used Finasteride as it is one of the rare side effects for this medecine .
as it transforms Testosterone into Dihydrotestosterone - DHT
so it reduce Testosterone so may see female changes like grown of the breast
kennyray
15 June 2013
Sorry, but it is just the reverse. Finasteride prevents the liver from changing testosterone into dihydrotestossterone. DHT causes male pattern baldness, and at puberty DHT enlarges the genitals and the prostate and causes the growth of adult male body hair. The presence of DHT prevents the enlargement of male breasts. Kenny Ray
Related topics
breast cancer, cancer, breast cancer - male, finasteride, swelling, doctor, medicine, male, breast
Further information
- Finasteride uses and safety info
- Finasteride prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Finasteride (detailed)
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