Can Men Get Breast Cancer?

Can men get breast cancer?

One of many different types of cancer that can affect the body, breast cancer is a condition that most people are aware of. There are numerous public health campaigns which explore the effects of breast cancer on women, as well as promoting awareness around mastectomies and other treatment options. Women are statistically more likely to develop breast cancer, so much of the information available is aimed at women and girls - but it’s important to know the implications of breast cancer for men, as well.

Can men have breast cancer?

Something a lot of people don’t realise is that men can also develop breast cancer, even though men aren’t typically thought of as having breasts. The tissue of a man’s chest, though, is the same as the tissue in women’s breasts, meaning that anyone can develop breast cancer. 

However, breast cancer is much more common in women than in men, and that’s why the majority of campaigns have a female focus. According to Cancer Research UK, less than 1% of breast cancer cases in the UK occur in men - that’s around 370 cases per year for men versus about 55,000 cases in women. Although breast cancer is found much less commonly in men than it is in women, it’s still worth being aware of the risks and symptoms so that if you or a loved one does notice a change, you can get medical attention sooner rather than later. 

While women are more likely to get the condition than men, that isn’t the only cause of breast cancer. In men, it’s more likely that you’ll develop breast cancer if you:

• Are over 60 years old
• Have had a condition, surgery or injury which has affected your testicles
• Have high levels of the hormone oestrogen - which can be linked to obesity, long-term liver damage or Klinefelter syndrome, for example
• Have had radiotherapy to the chest area previously
• Smoke
• Are related by blood to other people who’ve had ovarian or breast cancer.

Important! Having one or more of these risk factors doesn’t guarantee that you will develop breast cancer - only that you’re at a higher risk than someone who doesn’t have any risk factors. If you’re at all concerned about your risk of breast cancer, you should speak to your GP for advice.

How to check for breast cancer in men

Like women, men can get into the habit of regularly checking their chest for signs of breast cancer. Doing so doesn’t lessen your risk of developing the condition, but it makes it more likely that you’ll spot any early symptoms sooner rather than later, allowing you to report the issue to your GP and take any necessary next steps quicker. If it turns out that you do have breast cancer, catching it early can make treatment easier.

So, how do you check your chest? Well, the process is much the same for men as it is for women.

There are three main steps:

1. Take off any clothes you’re wearing on your upper half and stand or sit in front of a mirror. Visually examine your chest for anything that looks different to normal, first with your arms by your sides and then again with your arms raised above your head. 
2. Use small circular motions to feel around each side of your chest with a gentle pressure. You’ll want to cover all the way to your armpits and up to your collarbones.
3. Gently feel the area around and over both of your nipples. 

When you check your chest, you’re basically looking for any changes in the look or feel of your skin, so it’s a good idea to do it frequently enough to know what’s normal for you. If you do notice anything unusual, make an appointment to see your GP about it - but don’t panic. Many things that can be signs of breast cancer can also be symptoms of other, less serious conditions, so finding a lump or any other change doesn’t definitely mean the worst. The best thing to do is to see your doctor, who can examine your chest, perform tests if necessary, and let you know the appropriate course of action.