Although men do not develop milk-producing breasts, breast cells and tissue in men can still become cancerous. Male breast cancer is, however, sporadic, with less than one percent of all breast cancer cases occurring in men. Only one in a thousand men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. When it does happen, breast cancer in men is typically identified as a hard lump under the nipple and areola.
Men are at higher risk of dying from breast cancer than women due to lower awareness and a tendency to delay seeking medical treatment. The majority of men diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50.
Types of Male Breast Cancer: Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma and Others
The most common type in men who develop breast cancer is Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma (IDC). This form of cancer occurs when cells in or around the ducts invade the surrounding tissue. In rare cases, men may also be diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer or Paget’s disease of the nipple, which is Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) typically found within the nipple and areola.
Risk Factors
Although male breast cancer is rare, certain risk factors can increase a man’s likelihood of developing this disease. These include radiation exposure, high levels of the hormone estrogen, and a family history of breast cancer, especially when related to the BRCA2 gene.
Signs & Symptoms
Male breast cancer can present the same symptoms as breast cancer in women, including the appearance of a lump. Both men and women must seek medical attention immediately upon noticing any unusual changes in their breasts.
Men with breast cancer typically discover a lump during a shower, usually located under the nipple and areola. Unfortunately, men often delay seeking medical attention, leading to more advanced cancer and the need for more aggressive treatment.
Almost all male breast cancer cases are estrogen receptor-positive, and hormonal therapy is often used as a treatment, just like 70% of women. Survival rates and treatment options for male breast cancer are similar to those for women. Early detection of breast cancer increases the range of treatment options available and may reduce the risk of death from breast cancer.
Genetic Testing
It is essential for a man diagnosed with breast cancer to seek genetic counseling. If he tests positive for a defective gene, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, he may be at risk for future breast cancer diagnoses, and his children may have a 50% chance of carrying the gene.
The male child of a man with breast cancer who inherits the defective BRCA2 gene has a low chance of eventually developing breast cancer, around 6%, whereas female children have a higher risk, between 40% to 80%. Men with the BRCA2 gene mutation are also at a higher risk of getting prostate cancer at a younger age than usual and a higher risk for melanoma and pancreatic cancer.
The material on this page is from
The information has been obtained from various sources, including the American Cancer Society, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
