喵咪社区

While breast cancer in men is rare, it鈥檚 important to know the signs to avoid a late-stage diagnosis.

Breast cancer doesn鈥檛 only affect women. While it鈥檚 a rare occurrence 鈥� accounting for about 1% of all new breast cancer cases each year, according to the 鈥� men are also susceptible to the disease.

鈥淢en can get breast cancer because although they have less volume, men have breast tissue, too,鈥� explains Emily Siegel, MD, a breast surgical oncologist who treats patients at the 喵咪社区 Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of 喵咪社区.

Even though a man鈥檚 risk of developing breast cancer is far lower compared to other malignancies like prostate or colon cancer, it鈥檚 still important to be aware of the warning signs. Research shows that since men are not typically screened for breast cancer, it鈥檚 more likely that the cancer will have already spread to other areas by the time they receive a diagnosis.

What are the risk factors of breast cancer in men?

Risk factors that can increase a man鈥檚 chances of getting breast cancer include:

Genetics

Both women and men can carry mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that increase the odds of developing breast cancer, including at younger ages. 鈥淚f you have a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, then getting tested for a genetic mutation is worthwhile,鈥� says Dr. Siegel, who is also an assistant professor of clinical surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of 喵咪社区. She adds that testing is usually done using saliva or a blood sample.

Hormones

An increased estrogen-to-testosterone ratio can be a contributing factor. Klinefelter syndrome, a disorder that causes males to be born with an extra X chromosome, can cause elevated estrogen levels. Taking exogenous estrogen, including for gender-affirming care, may also increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

says other conditions that impact hormones, like liver disease and obesity, may be linked to breast cancer in men, as well.

Radiation exposure

Exposure to radiation in the chest area can raise the risk of breast cancer 鈥� for example, in patients who underwent radiation therapy for a different type of cancer.

All that being said, Dr. Siegel cautions that it鈥檚 still possible to get breast cancer even without any of these risk factors. She says it鈥檚 often challenging to pinpoint the exact reason why a man developed breast cancer. 鈥淚n most cases, there was no specific identifiable risk factor. Sometimes, it鈥檚 just bad luck.鈥�

What are the symptoms of men鈥檚 breast cancer?

The signs of breast cancer in men are similar to signs in women. Men may notice a lump that feels like a rock or a ball. 鈥淢ale breast cancer is usually retroareolar, meaning it will be in the tissue behind the nipple, as opposed to women, where it more commonly occurs in all areas of the breast,鈥� explains Dr. Siegel.

鈥淎ny nipple discharge would be concerning in a male,鈥� Dr. Siegel adds. She says changes to the chest area are also concerning, like flaky or scaly skin, discoloration or if the nipple becomes inverted.

She recommends all patients pay close attention to their bodies while washing themselves. 鈥淐reate that muscle memory so that you鈥檒l notice if something seems different.鈥�

Dr. Siegel says when she sees male patients for possible breast cancer, she鈥檒l do a mammogram or ultrasound. 鈥淲e鈥檙e usually trying to rule out gynecomastia, which is where breast tissue gets bulkier and can feel like a mass, but it鈥檚 not cancerous.鈥�

If needed, the next step is a core needle biopsy. 鈥淲e put a needle in the mass, take out a small piece and send it to pathology鈥� to test whether it鈥檚 cancer.

How is breast cancer treated in men?

Dr. Siegel says in her experience, most male patients opt for a mastectomy to remove the entire breast. She says during the procedure, the surgical team usually checks the patient鈥檚 lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread.

Once the size and spread of the cancer has been determined, may include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation. 鈥淭he rest of the adjunct therapies are very much individualized based on the patient,鈥� says Dr. Siegel.

She warns that 鈥渕en more often have disease that has spread to the lymph nodes or to areas outside the breast 鈥� not because of a biological difference in the cancer but because men often present at a later stage,鈥� Dr. Siegel says.

That鈥檚 why she stresses that it鈥檚 important for men to be aware that breast cancer is a possibility and that they shouldn鈥檛 feel embarrassed to ask questions about it. 鈥淵ou can be your best advocate.鈥�

Topics