Male Breast Cancer: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment & More (original) (raw)

Medically reviewed on Jul 17, 2024

All people, male or female, are born with breast cells and tissue. While males do not develop milk-producing breasts, a man’s breast cells and tissue can still develop cancer.

Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses in the United States. The lifetime risk of male breast cancer is about 1 in 726, according to the American Cancer Society. The typical age range for male breast cancer diagnosis is between 60 and 70, with 67 as the average age of a male breast cancer diagnosis.

While breast cancer in men is rare, men do carry a higher breast cancer mortality rate than women, primarily because men are less likely to assume a lump is breast cancer and are overall less aware of breast cancer, which can cause a delay in seeking treatment.

Male breast cancer key highlights

• Male breast cancer begins as a growth of malignant or cancerous cells in the breast tissue. All people, male and female, have breast tissue.
• Men with breast cancer often find a lump in their breast tissue.
• Male breast cancer is rare, representing about 1% of total breast cancer cases.
• Breast cancer in men may occur at any age, but is typically identified in men ages 60 to 70.
• Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of breast cancer in men; this cancer begins in the milk ducts and spreads beyond the cells that line the breast ducts.
• Treatment for male breast cancer often involves surgery to remove the cancerous tissue as well as chemotherapy and radiation.
• Nearly all breast cancer in men is estrogen receptor positive (ER+) with treatment including hormonal therapy, just as in 70% of female breast cancer cases.
• Factors that increase a man’s risk of breast cancer include family history of breast cancer, age, genetic mutations (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2), and higher estrogen levels.
• Men should be familiar with how their breast tissue typically looks and feels so they can detect any changes in the tissue.

Table of contents

• Male breast cancer statistics
• Signs and symptoms of male breast cancer
• Types of male breast cancer
• Male breast cancer stages
• Risk factors for male breast cancer
• Diagnosing male breast cancer
• Genetic testing for male breast cancer
• Male breast cancer treatment options
• Male breast cancer survival rates
• Support for patients and survivors
• Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week

Male breast cancer statistics

Knowing the key statistics for male breast cancer is important for increasing awareness of the disease and sharing life-saving information about the importance of the early detection of male breast cancer.

Key male breast cancer statistics include:

• Male breast cancer represents about 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States.
• In 2024, about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.
• About 530 U.S. men will die from breast cancer in 2024.
• Male breast cancer is typically diagnosed between ages 60 to 70. The average age of men diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States is 67.
• The average lifetime risk of male breast cancer is about 1 in 726.
• Male breast cancer is 100 times less common among white men than it is among white women.
• Male breast cancer is 70 times less common for Black men than Black women.

Signs and symptoms of male breast cancer

Male breast cancer can exhibit the same signs and symptoms as breast cancer in women, including a lump.

The most common symptoms for male breast cancer include:

• A lump, with or without pain, that feels like a knot or hard pebble; lumps can be located right under or around the nipple or in the armpit area
• Pain in the nipple or breast area
• Changes to the breast skin, including dimpling, puckering, or redness
• Change in the breast shape or size
• Nipple discharge
• A rash or a sore on the nipple or areola
• Nipple turning inward (inverted nipple)

Breast cancer in men is usually detected as a hard lump underneath the nipple and areola, which is often found by men while in the shower.

It is common for men to delay reporting the lump to a physician, which can result in the patient being diagnosed at a later stage when the cancer is harder to treat. It is important to contact a healthcare professional immediately if you detect any of these changes in the breast tissue or surrounding area.

Early detection of breast cancer increases treatment options and often reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer for men and women alike.

Male breast cancer types

Like breast cancer in women, men can develop different types of breast cancer. The treatment plan for male breast cancer will vary based on which type of cancer he is diagnosed with.

The most common types of male breast cancer include:

• Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): Also known as infiltrative ductal carcinoma, this invasive type of male breast cancer occurs when cancerous cells spread beyond the milk ducts into other parts of the breast tissue or other parts of the body. It is the most common type of breast cancer for both men and women.
• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): DCIS is a non-invasive type of breast cancer where abnormal cells are found in the lining of the milk duct. The earliest breast cancer stages are known as “carcinoma in situ,” which means “cancer in the original place,” or breast cancer that has not spread to other areas. This form of breast cancer is highly treatable in its early stages.

Male breast cancer stages

When male breast cancer is diagnosed, it will be given a cancer type and stage. The stage of breast cancer indicates how far the cancer has spread and how much cancer exists in the body. This information also informs male breast cancer treatment plans.

In general, a lower stage number indicates less spread and will require less treatment. The staging for male breast cancer mirrors that for breast cancer in women.

The stages of male breast cancer are:

• Stage 0: Male breast cancer that is non-invasive and has not spread beyond the milk ducts. This stage includes ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
• Stage 1: These relatively early types of male breast cancer have either not spread to the lymph nodes or there is a very small spread in the sentinel lymph node, which is the first node cancer typically reaches.
• Stage 2: This is a more advanced form of breast cancer with spread to additional lymph nodes.
• Stage 3: The cancer has spread out of the breast tissue into many nearby lymph nodes and is a more advanced stage.
• Stage 4: Also known as metastatic breast cancer, this advanced form of breast cancer involves spread to other parts of the body, often to the bones, brain, liver, or lungs.

These stages are based on factors including the size of the tumor, spread to the lymph nodes and other distant sites, whether it has a protein known as an estrogen receptor or a progesterone receptor, and more. Male breast cancer treatment will be based on factors including stage and type of cancer.

Male breast cancer risk factors

Most research suggests the cause of male breast cancer is unclear. However, there are certain risk factors for male breast cancer.

Factors that increase the risk of breast cancer in men include:

• Age: The risk of male breast cancer increases as you age, with most diagnoses happening between ages 60 and 70.

• Family history: If you have a first-degree blood relative—male or female—with breast cancer, your risk of breast cancer increases. About 1 in 5 men with breast cancer have a close relative who has also faced breast cancer.
• BRCA gene mutations: Men with a gene mutation (change or defect) in a BRCA gene have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. A male with a BRCA1 gene mutation carries a 1 in 11 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. A male with a BRCA2 gene mutation carries a 1 in 6 lifetime risk.
• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): Despite having “carcinoma” in the name, LCIS is not breast cancer. Rather, it is a condition where abnormal cells are found in the breast lobules. LCIS is considered a risk factor for developing breast cancer. It is highly rare in men because they do not have much lobular tissue. This condition is very treatable and rarely becomes invasive cancer when found early.
• Estrogen-related treatment: Men who use hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer or who take medicine containing estrogen have a greater risk of breast cancer. In general, men with higher estrogen levels have an increased risk of male breast cancer.
• Klinefelter syndrome: This congenital condition affects about 1 in every 1,000 men. While most men have one X and one Y chromosome, men with Klinefelter syndrome have at least two X chromosomes. It reduces male hormones, or androgens, and increases estrogen (female hormones) in the body. This syndrome can increase the risk of breast cancer in men by 20 to 60%.
• Radiation exposure: Men who have been treated with radiation on the chest area have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
• Liver disease: Severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis, creates imbalances in male hormone levels and increases the risk of male breast cancer. Heavy alcohol consumption also fuels the risk of breast cancer.
• Testicular conditions: Having one or both testicles surgically removed, having undescended testicles, and adult cases of mumps can also contribute to increased male breast cancer risk.
• Obesity: Excessive weight is linked with increased estrogen, which in turn increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Smoking: Smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of developing breast and other types of cancer.
• Drinking alcohol: Frequent consumption of alcohol can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. The greater the consumption, the greater the risk.

​​If you have one or more of these risk factors present, talk with your doctor about monitoring for male breast cancer. Paying close attention to your breast health and overall health can help men manage risk factors.

Diagnosing breast cancer in men

Breast cancer in men can be detected through a variety of diagnostic tests. These tests provide further information and can inform treatment plans as needed.

If you have family history or breast cancer symptoms, your doctor may recommend some of these diagnostic tests:

• Physical exam: A physical exam, including family medical history and a breast exam to look for lumps or other issues, is often the first step in assessing breast cancer in men. In addition, your health professional might check other areas of your body to look for potential spread of cancer. This can be performed as part of your annual check-up or as needed in response to male breast cancer signs and symptoms.
• Mammogram: A low-dose x-ray of the breasts, mammograms are the best option for detecting male breast cancer in its early stages. A diagnostic mammogram can look for changes or issues in the breast tissue. Mammography involves pressing the breast tissue between two plates to allow for close examination of the breast tissue.
• Ultrasound: Often a follow-up to a mammogram, a breast ultrasound is a scan that uses sound waves to create a computer image of the breast, known as a sonogram. During an ultrasound, the technician places gel on the breast skin and waves a wand called a transducer over the area, which then creates the computer image. These images can be used for further evaluation of the breast and to determine the exact size and location of any lumps and surrounding tissue.
• Biopsy: A breast biopsy is the only diagnostic test that can officially determine if the suspicious area is cancerous or not. During a biopsy, tissue and/or fluid are removed from the suspicious area and examined under a microscope to look for breast cancer.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you may undergo additional tests at your physician’s recommendation, such as blood marker tests, a chest x-ray, or a bone scan. Biomarker tests, which look for genes or proteins that reveal important information about cancer type, can classify male breast cancer by further analyzing cells from a blood sample or biopsy. These follow-up tests can determine breast cancer type and stage and be used to determine what drugs and protocols might best treat the cancer.

Genetic testing for male breast cancer

A man diagnosed with breast cancer should consider genetic testing to determine if there is a mutation in a gene that can cause breast cancer. It is important for a man to know if he has a breast cancer gene mutation because that mutation can be passed down to his children—male or female—increasing their risk for also developing breast cancer.

BRCA gene mutation in men

BRCA is an abbreviation for BReast CAncer gene. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two different genes that have been found to impact a person’s chances of developing breast cancer. A mutation, or defect, in either of these genes increases a person’s likelihood of developing breast cancer.

If a man tests positive for a gene mutation, most commonly BRCA1 or BRCA2, he has an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the future. Likewise, each child of a man with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation has a 50% chance of also carrying the gene.

Inherited BRCA gene mutation facts:

• A male child of a man with breast cancer who inherits the BRCA2 gene has an approximately 6% chance of eventually developing breast cancer.
• A male child of a man with breast cancer who inherits the BRCA1 gene mutation has an approximately 1% chance of eventually developing breast cancer.
• A female child of a man with a BRCA gene mutation has a risk between 40% and 80% of eventually developing breast cancer.
• Men with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer (carrying a BRCA gene mutation) are also at higher risk of getting prostate cancer at a younger age than usually diagnosed, as well as being at higher risk for melanoma (skin cancer) and pancreatic cancer.

Since up to 10% of breast cancer is thought to be inherited, genetic testing for genes linked to breast cancer can be an important step for men who have a strong family history of cancer. Additional clinical studies continue to assess and evaluate the genetic components of male breast cancer.

Male breast cancer treatment

Treatment for male breast cancer varies based on the type and stage of cancer, with surgery being the main treatment for both women and men. Some treatments are localized, which means only the area around the cancerous tumor is treated, while others are systemic and treat the entire body.

If you are diagnosed with male breast cancer, your healthcare team will help you customize a treatment plan to address the cancer as well as strategies for managing potential side effects.

The primary treatments for male breast cancer include:

• Surgery: Typically, men with breast cancer will have a mastectomy to remove the cancer. A mastectomy may involve removing the breast, breast tissue, lymph nodes, and the lining of the chest wall, depending on the tumor’s size, location, and progression.
• Chemotherapy: This treatment uses cancer-killing drugs to prevent cancer cells from growing. Some men with breast cancer have chemotherapy before surgery to shrink the tumor size, or after surgery to address any cells that may remain. Chemo can also treat cancer that has spread beyond the breast.
• Radiation: Often used after breast cancer surgery, radiation uses high-energy rays to kill remaining cancer cells. This treatment might also be performed before male breast cancer surgery to shrink the tumor.
• Hormonal therapy: Hormonal therapy treats male breast cancer with drugs or other treatments that can inhibit growth or kill cancer cells. Sometimes the hormones estrogen and progesterone—which are often thought of as female hormones but are also present in men—can cause cancer to grow. Like chemo and radiation, hormone therapy for men can be used before or after breast cancer surgery.
• Biologic targeted therapy: A newer therapy for male breast cancer, biologic targeted therapy involves drugs that can target specific cancer cells and block the growth of cancer without harming normal cells. These targeted drugs, which work differently than chemo drugs, are often used in combination with chemotherapy.

Many male breast cancer therapies are used in combination. It’s likely that you will receive a combination of the treatments listed above to treat male breast cancer.

Male breast cancer survival rate

When detected in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate of male breast cancer is 95%, according to the American Cancer Society. This means that at the end of 5 years, 95% of men diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will still be living.

Each stage of male breast cancer carries its own survival rate. Five-year relative survival rates at the localized, regional, and distant stages of male breast cancer are below.

5-year relative survival rates for male breast cancer by SEER* stage

*SURVEILLANCE, EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND END RESULTS, NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
**Table information provided by the American Cancer Society

Men diagnosed with breast cancer today may have a better outlook based on improved treatments and greater recognition of breast cancer in men.

Support for male breast cancer patients & survivors

Men with breast cancer can turn to a variety of resources for coping and support during breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.

Your local care team, patient navigator, or hospital social worker might recommend support groups or individual therapists as well as connect you to financial assistance programs for support during treatment.

Additionally, there are breast cancer awareness and support organizations geared specifically toward men. Two such organizations are Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance, which shares tools and resources specifically for men, and HIS Breast Cancer Awareness, which offers educational information and support to men facing the disease.

Talking about breast cancer is not easy for many, but it is important to find valuable support—whether it is a support group, an individual therapist, or a reliable friend—during this challenging time.

Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week

The month of October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a month set aside to encourage early detection, raise awareness about the risk and prevalence of breast cancer, and is a time to support and encourage breast cancer patients and survivors. Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week is observed every October 17-23.

Sources:
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
breastcancer.org
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Mayo Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
Mayo Clinic