Men do get breast cancer, though it is rare
Breast cancer in men is real and happens more often than many people think. About 1 in 100 breast cancers occurs in a man. In the United States, roughly 2,800 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and about 500 die from it. Because men and their doctors often do not expect it, diagnosis sometimes comes later than it would in women — which can affect treatment options and outcomes.
Men have breast tissue just as women do, even though it is usually smaller and less developed. Cancer can start in that tissue at any age, though it is more common after age 50. The risk goes up with age, obesity, heavy alcohol use, liver disease, and family history of breast cancer.
Key Takeaways
- Men account for roughly 1 in 100 breast cancer cases, and diagnosis often comes later because the disease is unexpected in men.
- Risk factors include age over 50, obesity, heavy drinking, liver disease, and a family history of breast cancer or BRCA gene mutations.
- A lump in the breast or chest, nipple discharge, or skin changes should be checked by a doctor, even though most lumps are not cancer.
- Treatment for men follows the same paths as for women — surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy — and outcomes depend partly on how early the cancer is caught.
- Genetic testing for BRCA mutations may be recommended if you have a family history, since men with these mutations have higher breast cancer risk.
Why men's breast cancer is often found late
Men do not routinely check their breasts the way women are taught to check theirs. Doctors also may not think to look for breast cancer in a male patient, so a lump or discharge gets attributed to something else — infection, a cyst, or a skin condition — and real diagnosis is delayed.
This delay matters. Breast cancer that spreads beyond the breast before treatment starts is harder to treat and has a lower survival rate. Men are more likely than women to have cancer that has already spread at the time of diagnosis, partly because they waited longer to see a doctor and partly because doctors did not suspect it sooner.
The takeaway: if you notice a lump, thickening, dimpling, redness, or discharge from your nipple, tell your doctor directly that you are concerned about breast cancer. Do not assume it is something else, and do not wait to see if it goes away on its own.
Signs and symptoms to watch for
Breast cancer in men usually shows up as a hard lump or thickening in the breast or chest area, often near or under the nipple. You might notice it yourself, or a doctor might find it during an exam for something else. The lump is usually painless, though some men do feel tenderness or pain.
Other signs include nipple discharge (especially if it is bloody or comes from only one breast), skin dimpling or puckering, redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin, or the nipple turning inward. Some men notice swelling or lumps under the arm, which can mean the cancer has reached the lymph nodes.
Most breast lumps in men are not cancer — they can be cysts, fat, or benign growths. But the only way to know is to have a doctor examine you and, if needed, order imaging or a biopsy. Do not try to diagnose yourself.
How doctors test for breast cancer in men
If you report a lump or symptom, your doctor will do a physical exam first, feeling the breast and armpit for lumps or swelling. If something seems abnormal, the next step is usually an ultrasound or mammogram — the same imaging used for women, though men's breasts are smaller and sometimes require different positioning.
If imaging shows something suspicious, a biopsy comes next. A radiologist or surgeon removes a small sample of tissue using a needle or a small incision, and a pathologist looks at it under a microscope to see whether cancer cells are present. A biopsy is the only way to know for certain whether a lump is cancer.
If cancer is confirmed, you will have more tests to learn how far it has spread — blood work, CT scans, or bone scans, depending on what your doctor finds. This staging tells you and your doctor what treatment options make sense.
Treatment options for men with breast cancer
Treatment for breast cancer in men follows the same general paths as for women: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or a combination. The specific plan depends on the type and stage of cancer, your age and overall health, and what you and your doctor decide together.
Surgery is almost always the first step. Most men have a mastectomy — removal of the entire breast, nipple, and surrounding tissue. Some men with very small, early-stage cancers may have a lumpectomy (removal of just the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue), though this is less common in men. Lymph nodes under the arm are often removed or tested to see whether cancer has spread.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. It is often given after surgery if the cancer was large, had spread to lymph nodes, or if the surgeon could not remove all of it. Radiation is usually given five days a week for several weeks.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. It is used if cancer has spread beyond the breast or if there is a high risk it will. Chemotherapy can be given before surgery (to shrink the tumor) or after (to kill any remaining cells).
Hormone therapy blocks the effects of estrogen, which many breast cancers need to grow. Most men with breast cancer have tumors that are hormone-sensitive, so hormone therapy is often part of the plan. Tamoxifen is the most common drug used in men.
Genetic testing and family risk
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor may recommend genetic testing to see whether you carry a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Men with these mutations have a higher lifetime risk of breast cancer and also have increased risk of prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer.
If you have a family history of breast cancer — especially if a relative was diagnosed before age 50, or if multiple relatives have had breast or ovarian cancer — genetic testing may be worth discussing even if you have not been diagnosed. A genetic counselor can help you understand what the results mean and what screening or prevention steps might make sense for you.
Knowing your genetic status also matters for your relatives. If you carry a BRCA mutation, your children, siblings, and parents may carry it too, and they may want to know their own risk.
Living with and after breast cancer treatment
After treatment ends, you will have follow-up appointments with your oncologist to watch for recurrence. How often you see your doctor depends on the stage of your cancer and how you are doing, but most men have visits every few months for the first year or two, then less frequently as time goes on.
Tell your doctor about any new symptoms — a lump, pain, swelling, or anything else that concerns you. Some men experience side effects from treatment that last months or years: fatigue, numbness in the hands or feet from chemotherapy, or emotional effects from the diagnosis and treatment itself. These are worth discussing with your doctor or a counselor.
Survival rates for men with breast cancer have improved over the past 20 years, especially for cancers caught early. Your own outlook depends on the stage at diagnosis, the type of cancer, your age, and your overall health — your doctor can give you a more specific picture based on your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can men get breast cancer from hormone therapy or estrogen exposure?
Estrogen exposure can raise breast cancer risk in men, but it is not the main cause. Most men with breast cancer have not had significant estrogen exposure. Age, family history, and genetic mutations are stronger risk factors. Men taking estrogen for gender transition do have higher breast cancer risk and should discuss screening with their doctor.
If my father had breast cancer, will I definitely get it?
No. Family history raises your risk, but it does not mean you will develop cancer. If your father had breast cancer, talk to your doctor about whether genetic testing makes sense and whether you should do self-exams or have screening. Many men with a family history never develop breast cancer.
Is breast cancer in men more aggressive than in women?
Breast cancer itself is not more aggressive in men. However, men are often diagnosed at a later stage because the disease is unexpected, and later-stage cancers are harder to treat. If caught early, outcomes for men are similar to outcomes for women with the same stage and type of cancer.
Can I have a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy?
Some men with very small, early-stage cancers may be candidates for lumpectomy followed by radiation. However, mastectomy is more common in men because male breast tissue is smaller and the tumor is often close to the nipple. Discuss your options with your surgeon — the choice depends on tumor size, location, and your preferences.
What should I do if I find a lump in my breast?
Schedule an appointment with your doctor and describe what you found — where it is, how long you have had it, whether it is painful, and whether anything else has changed. Your doctor will examine you and order imaging if needed. Most lumps are not cancer, but the only way to know is to have it checked.