Though it is uncommon, men and people assigned male at birth can develop breast cancer.
Women have more breast tissue and are at higher risk for breast cancer, but men also have breast tissue that can develop cancer. Male breast cancer is rare and makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer.
What breast cancer symptoms present in men?
Many men don’t know they can get breast cancer because it’s rare. As a result, they may not know what signs to watch for.
The most common sign of breast cancer in men is a lump. The lump will often be firm and painless. Other skin changes may be present, such as dimpling (puckering of the skin) or an orange-peel-like texture of the skin (peau d’orange).
Nipple discharge or nipple inversion (the nipple pulling inward) may be signs of underlying malignancy. A red rash on the nipples or breasts is also something to be aware of and bring to the attention of your provider.
What risk factors do men have for breast cancer?
Risk factors for breast cancer in men include older age, family history, and gene mutations such as BRCA.
Conditions that cause estrogen levels to increase, such as liver disease, obesity, or Klinefelter Syndrome, are also risk factors. Additionally, hormone therapy for prostate cancer can increase the risk of breast cancer in men.
Do men need to undergo regular breast cancer screening?
Since breast cancer in men is rare, there have not been many studies to evaluate regular screening imaging for asymptomatic men. We, therefore, do not have recommendations for breast cancer screening in men like we do in women.
If a male has a family history of breast cancer, they should talk to their doctor about genetic testing. This will help determine if they have a gene mutation like BRCA 1 or BRCA 2, which increases their risk of breast cancer.
If a man or person assigned male at birth is high risk or is found to have a gene mutation, they should talk to their health care provider about screening options for breast cancer.
How is male breast cancer treated?
Treatment options are similar to those for women and depend on the stage of cancer and cancer cell characteristics.
Treatment often involves surgery to remove the cancer. The most common treatment is a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast. Another option is breast-conserving surgery, which removes the tumor and some surrounding tissue.
Additionally, your healthcare provider may recommend radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and/or targeted therapy.
Male Breast Cancer v. Female Breast Cancer
Similarly to breast cancer in women, men can develop breast cancer from the milk ducts (ductal carcinoma) or milk lobules (lobular carcinoma). Ductal carcinoma is much more common in men as milk lobules are generally not well-developed.
Both men and women can develop other types of breast cancer, such as Paget’s disease or inflammatory breast cancer, though this is very rare in men.
Male breast cancer patients have a lower five-year relative survival rate than women, which is in part thought to be because men are often diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage. Raising awareness about male breast cancer is crucial so men can recognize signs, symptoms, and know when to see a doctor.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are concerned about your risk of breast cancer, don’t wait. Schedule a consultation with our experienced oncoplastic surgeons or call (310) 278-8590 to learn more about your options and how Bedford Breast Center can support you.
Leave a Reply