About

RISK FACTORS

• Age: Higher risk as men age. On average, males are diagnosed with breast cancer at 68 years.
• Family History: 1 out 5 men who have been diagnosed has a family history (including a mother or sister with breast cancer.
• Prior radiation exposure: men who have had their chest area treated with radiation for a lymphoma or other conditions are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
• Regular use of estrogen-related drugs: transgender/ transsexual individuals that take high doses of estrogen may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Some men with prostate cancer may also be a higher risk if treated with hormone therapy that involved estrogen related drugs.
• Men with a mutation (defect) in the BRCA2 gene have an increased risk of breast cancer, with a lifetime risk of about 6 in 100.
• Liver disease: Men with a severe liver disease such as cirrhosis are at an increased risk for breast cancer.

While it is less common than other male cancers, breast cancer has a higher death rate. It can claim the lives of over 20% of those diagnosed. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the more likely it is that treatments will be effective – no matter what gender you are.

FYI

A WOMAN’S ROLE

1. Remind
Remind the men in your lives to perform self-breast exams, just as you do.

2. Recognize
Men often confuse symptoms with a sports or work injury. Because they are less likely to recognize or report warning signs, they are often diagnosed after the disease has spread.

3. Reinforce
Men with symptoms may not go to the health care provider because they believe a “real man” wouldn’t get breast cancer. That attitude can be prevented with a healthy support system. Reinforce the importance of checking out anything unusual with a health care provider as soon as possible.

Lack of awareness about male breast cancer can be fatal – men with breast cancer often mistake visible lumps for other problems or ignore them until it is too late. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the more likely it is that treatments will be effective – no matter what gender you are. Early detection is key.

Symptoms

Schedule a medical appointment if you notice any of these symptoms:

• A lump or thickening (often painless) in the breast that can be felt
• Skin dimpling or puckering
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Clear or bloody discharge from the nipple

Prevention

You may be able to decrease your risk of breast cancer by:

• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Staying physically active
• Practicing self-examination

Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider

It’s important that you become proactive in your health care for you to get the best treatment. Here are some questions you can ask your health care provider about male breast cancer.

• What type of breast cancer do I have?
• What is the stage of my cancer?
• What are my treatment options? What treatment do you recommend? Why?
• What are the possible side effects of this treatment?
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
• Are there any clinical trials that I could participate in?
• Who can help me understand what aspects of my care is covered by my insurance and where I can get financial help.
• After treatment, what are the chances that the cancer will come back?

Treatments

Treatment usually includes a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy.

Visit the American Cancer Society for more detailed information about male breast cancer treatment options.

Resources

Find Out More about Male Breast Cancer at the following websites and resources:

Male Breast Cancer Coalition
Male Breast Cancer Resource Center
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
Breast Cancer.Org
Breast Cancer: It Can Happen to Men, Too!