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Breast cancer in men
Infiltrating ductal carcinoma - male; Ductal carcinoma in situ - male; Intraductal carcinoma - male; Inflammatory breast cancer - male; Paget disease of the nipple - male; Breast cancer - male
Breast cancer is cancer that starts in breast tissue. Both males and females have breast tissue. This means that anyone, including men and boys, can develop breast cancer.
Breast cancer in men is rare. Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers.
Causes
The cause of breast cancer in men is not clear. But there are risk factors that make breast cancer more likely in men:
- Exposure to radiation
-
Higher estrogen levels due to factors such as heavy drinking,
cirrhosis
, obesity, and some medicines to treat
prostate cancer
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleProstate cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped structure that makes up part of a man's reproduc...
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Heredity, such as a family history of breast cancer, mutated
BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene
, and certain genetic disorders, such as
Klinefelter syndrome
Klinefelter syndrome
Klinefelter syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs in males when they have an extra X chromosome.
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Excess breast tissue (
gynecomastia
)
Gynecomastia
When abnormally large breasts develop in males, it is called gynecomastia. It is due to the excess growth of breast tissue, not excess fat tissue....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Age. Most men are diagnosed with breast cancer between ages 60 to 70.
Symptoms
Symptoms of breast cancer in men include:
-
Lump or swelling in the breast tissue. One breast may be
larger than the other
.
Larger than the other
When abnormally large breasts develop in males, it is called gynecomastia. It is due to the excess growth of breast tissue, not excess fat tissue....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - A small lump beneath the nipple.
- Unusual changes in the nipple or skin around the nipple such as redness, scaling, or puckering.
- Nipple discharge.
Exams and Tests
You health care provider will take your medical history and family medical history. You will have a physical exam and a breast exam.
Your provider may order other tests, including:
-
A
mammogram
Mammogram
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to find breast tumors and cancer.
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Breast ultrasound
Breast ultrasound
Breast ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to examine the breasts.
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An
MRI of the breast
MRI of the breast
A breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the breast and sur...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - A blood test to check for signs of cancer
-
If any of the tests suggest cancer, your provider will do a
biopsy
to check for cancer.
Biopsy
A polyp biopsy is a test that takes a sample of, or removes polyps (abnormal growths) for examination.
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If cancer is found, your provider will order other tests to find out:
- How quickly the cancer might grow
- How likely it is to spread
- What treatments might be best
- What are the chances that the cancer might come back
The tests may include:
- Chest x-ray, specifically to see if it has spread to the lungs
-
Bone scan
Bone scan
A bone scan is an imaging test used to diagnose bone diseases and find out how severe they are.
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CT scan
CT scan
A computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...
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PET scan
PET scan
A positron emission tomography scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body. A po...
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Sentinel lymph node biopsy
to check if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
A lymph node biopsy is the removal of lymph node tissue for examination under a microscope. The lymph nodes are small glands that make white blood ce...
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The biopsy and other tests will be used to grade and stage the tumor. The results of those tests will help determine your treatment.
Treatment
Treatment options for breast cancer in men include:
- Surgery to remove the breast, lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over chest muscles, and chest muscles, if needed
-
Radiation therapy
after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and to target specific tumors
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-powered x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.
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Chemotherapy
to kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body
Chemotherapy
The term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Hormone therapy to block hormones that may help certain types of breast cancer grow
During and after treatment, your provider may ask you to have more tests. This may include tests you had during diagnosis. The follow-up tests will show how the treatment is working. They will also show if the cancer comes back .
If the cancer comes back
Carcinoma - recurrence; Squamous cell - recurrence; Adenocarcinoma - recurrence; Lymphoma - recurrence; Tumor - recurrence; Leukemia - recurrence; Ca...
Support Groups
Cancer affects how you feel about yourself and your life. You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group . Sharing with others who have had the same experiences and problems can help you feel less alone. The group can also point you to helpful resources for managing your condition.
Ask your provider to help you find a support group of men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The long-term outlook for men with breast cancer is excellent when the cancer is found and treated early.
- About 91% of men treated before cancer has spread to other areas of the body are cancer-free after 5 years.
- Almost 3 out of 4 men treated for cancer that has spread to lymph nodes but not to other areas of the body are cancer-free at 5 years.
- Men who have cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body have a smaller chance of long-term survival.
Possible Complications
Complications include side effects from surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider right away if you notice something unusual about your breast, including any lumps, skin changes, or discharge.
Prevention
There is no clear way to prevent breast cancer in men. The best way to protect yourself is to:
- Know that men can develop breast cancer
- Know your risk factors and talk with your provider about screening and early detection with tests if needed
- Know the possible signs of breast cancer
- Tell your provider if you notice any changes in your breast
References
Brinton LA, Cook MB, McCormack V, et al. Anthropometric and hormonal risk factors for male breast cancer: male breast cancer pooling project results. J Natl Cancer Inst . 2014;106(3):djt465. PMID: 24552677 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24552677 .
Hunt KK, Mittendorf EA. Diseases of the breast. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 34.
National Cancer Institute. PDQ: male breast cancer treatment - health professional version. Cancer.gov Web site. Updated February 12, 2016. www.cancer.gov/types/breast/hp/male-breast-treatment-pdq . Accessed October 17, 2016.
-
Breast cancer
(Alt. Medicine)
-
Prostate cancer
(In-Depth)
-
Prostate cancer
(Alt. Medicine)
-
Colorectal cancer
(Alt. Medicine)
-
Non-small cell lung cancer
(In-Depth)
Review Date: 8/15/2016
Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
