Breast Cancer in Men

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a growth of abnormal cells in the breast. Men have a very small amount of breast tissue right under the nipple. This breast tissue can develop cancer, just like a woman's breast. However, breast cancer in men is rare. One percent of all breast cancers are in men but breast cancer is getting more common in men. Breast cancer most often affects men in their late 50s to early 60s.

How does it occur?

It is not really known why some men get breast cancer. It may be related to hormone levels. There may be a genetic (inherited) factor, such as the BRCA 2 genetic mutation. In 15 to 20% of cases, a close female relative has had breast cancer.

What are the symptoms?

Male breast cancer symptoms may include:

• breast lump
• discharge from the nipple
• change in nipple shape or appearance
• scaly rash on the nipple.

See your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?

If you have discharge from a nipple, some of the discharge can be placed on a microscope slide and examined for cancer cells. If you have a breast lump or nipple rash, the tissue must be biopsied. A needle biopsy or surgical biopsy may be done.

• When you have a needle biopsy, you are given a local anesthetic to numb the area of the breast being tested. Then your healthcare provider inserts a needle into the breast lump and withdraws fluid or tissue from the lump. If fluid fills the needle, the lump is probably a cyst and not cancer. Removing the fluid also makes fluid-filled lumps go away. Tissue withdrawn by the needle will be examined in the lab by a pathologist.
• If you have a surgical biopsy, you will have a local anesthetic. The surgeon will make a cut in the skin and remove some of the lump or the entire lump. The tissue from the lump will be examined under a microscope. If cancer is found, you will also have lymph nodes removed from your armpit on the same side to see if cancer has spread beyond the breast to the lymph nodes.

How is it treated?

Surgery is the standard treatment. This usually involves removing the nipple, all breast tissue, and some of the lymph nodes in the armpit. How much needs to be removed depends on how far the tumor appears to have spread. After surgery it is common to have treatment with anticancer drugs (hormones, chemotherapy) and/or radiation. Men who have breast cancer should never take male hormones, like testosterone. However, the anti-estrogens used in treating female breast cancer are safe.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for recovering from surgery.
• Keep yourself as healthy as possible by eating healthy foods (fruits, vegetables and whole grains), exercising according to your provider's advice, and not smoking.
• Ask your provider if or when you may drink alcohol.
• Joining a support group for men surviving cancer is a good way to understand your own emotions as well as those of your family members. This is a good way to stay mentally healthy and to keep good family communication going during and after treatment.
• For more information on cancer, contact national and local organizations such as:
  • American Cancer Society, Inc.
    Phone: 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345)
    Web site: http://www.cancer.org
  • National Cancer Institute
    Phone: 1-800-4CANCER, or 1-800-422-6237 (TTY: 1-800-332-8615)
    Web site: http://www.cancer.gov

What can I do to prevent breast cancer?

We do not know how to prevent breast cancer in men.