Can Men Get Breast Cancer?

One of my patients, 59-year-old Mr Y, felt a painless chest wall lump for a year. Eventually, it grew until it was visible in the mirror. A biopsy revealed it was breast cancer. Fortunately, it hadn’t spread.

Male breast cancer is rare but it does occur, accounting for 0.5 to 1 percent of breast cancers globally and about 0.2 percent of all cancers in men. The lifetime risk is roughly 1 in 1,000, and the likelihood increases with age. On average, men are diagnosed 5 to 10 years later than women, mostly in their 60s.

Female vs male breast cancer

Compared to female breast cancer, male breast cancers often present with larger tumours and are more likely to involve axillary (armpit) lymph nodes. Nevertheless, the majority of cases are diagnosed at an early (stage I to II) or locally advanced stage (stage III), rather than at the metastatic stage (stage IV). It is usually unilateral, meaning that it only affects only one breast.

Male breast cancer symptoms to know

Watch out for breast cancer symptoms including those found in the breast and armpit. Some of the most common male breast cancer symptoms are:

• A painless (occasionally tender) lump, usually behind the nipple
• Nipple changes such as scaling, discharge, bleeding or retraction
• Skin changes like redness, puckering or ulceration
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit; if a suspicious lump appears, a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy are essential