Key Takeaways:

• Less than one percent of men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, but it does occur
• Family history and gene mutation are often the cause of male breast cancer
• Age, heavy alcohol use and being overweight or obese also can cause breast cancer in men
• Symptoms may include a lump or swelling in the breast, nipple discharge or skin and nipple changes
• Treatment is often surgery but patients may also need radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or hormone therapy

Learn about who’s more at risk, the symptoms you should be aware of and treatment options for male breast cancer

It’s rare – less than one percent – but men can get breast cancer too. What many people may not realize is men have breast tissue and that can be an area where abnormal cells grow and become cancerous.

The American Cancer Society estimates about 2,670 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year. About 530 men will die from breast cancer.

The most common type of breast cancer in men is called infiltrating (or invasive) ductal cancer. This is cancer that starts in cells lining the milk ducts and spreads to nearby tissue. (Yes, men have milk ducts, although, often underdeveloped.)

Other less common types of breast cancer in men include ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive lobular carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer and Paget’s disease of the nipple.

Which men are at risk for breast cancer?

Most experts think that genes may play a role in breast cancer development in men. This includes men with a family history of breast cancer in a first-degree relative and mutations of the BRCA genes.

Other risk factors for male breast cancer include:

• Being 60 or older
• Radiation exposure
• Estrogen treatment
• Diseases linked to high estrogen levels and low levels of male hormones, such as severe liver disease or Klinefelter syndrome
• Heavy alcohol use
• Being overweight or obese

What are the symptoms of breast cancer in men?

The most common symptoms of breast cancer in men include:

• Lump, thickening or swelling in the breast or armpit that may or may not be painful
• Nipple that turns inward
• Fluid leaking from the nipple that may be bloody
• Skin or nipple changes, such as dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling
• Changes in the size or shape of the breast

If you experience any of these symptoms, it doesn’t definitively mean you have cancer, but it does mean you should see your healthcare provider right away.

Your doctor can do a health history and physical exam. Other tests may be recommended such as mammography, ultrasound, MRI or biopsy.

How is breast cancer in men treated?

Everyone’s cancer is different, including your course of treatment. At the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion, we take a personalized approach to cancer care for each individual patient.

The main treatment for male breast surgery is typically a mastectomy, which is a surgical procedure that removes breast tissue on both sides and oftentimes both nipples. Sometimes nearby lymph nodes, the lining over the chest muscle and even part of the chest wall muscles under the breasts also may be removed.

Other treatment options may include:

• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy

Can breast cancer in men be prevented?

There’s no way to prevent male breast completely, especially if family history and genetics play a role. However, there are actions you can do to try to lower your risk including:

• Get to and stay at a healthy weight
• Follow a balanced diet
• Exercise regularly, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week
• Avoid or limit alcohol