October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and most of the conversation is about women. That’s understandable, but it leaves out something many men don’t know: men have a small amount of breast tissue behind the nipple, and it can develop cancer. Here’s a short introduction to breast cancer in men.
How common is it?
Breast cancer in men is rare. Around 390 men are diagnosed in the UK each year, which is fewer than 1 in 100 of all breast cancer cases. It usually affects men over 60, though it can very occasionally affect younger men.
Because it’s so uncommon, many men have never considered that it could happen to them. That matters, because a change can be put down to something else and left unchecked. As with most cancers, the outlook depends on how far it has spread when it’s found, and it may be possible to cure breast cancer that’s caught at an early stage.
What to look for
See your GP if you notice:
- a lump or swelling in your chest or armpit
- fluid leaking from a nipple, which may contain blood
- a change in the size or shape of either side of your chest
- a nipple turning inwards, or a rash on the nipple that may look like eczema
These symptoms can have other causes, and a lump isn’t necessarily cancer. But they’re always worth getting checked.
Who is at higher risk?
The exact cause isn’t known, but some things increase the risk:
- Genes and family history. Inheriting faulty versions of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increases the risk. About one in five men with breast cancer has a close relative who has had it, and that relative can be a man or a woman.
- Higher oestrogen levels. Conditions that raise oestrogen include obesity, Klinefelter syndrome (a rare genetic condition) and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
Most men with these risk factors never develop breast cancer. If breast cancer runs in your close family and you’re worried, talk to your GP, who may refer you to a genetic specialist to discuss your risk.
What happens if you see your GP?
Your GP will examine your chest and, if needed, refer you for tests and scans.
Pass it on
Many men simply don’t know this can happen. If you know a father, partner, brother or friend who might brush off a change, send him this article.
For more information, see the NHS, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan websites.
