When we hear the term breast cancer, we usually think of it affecting females, and most of the time that is the case. Rarely though, men will also develop breast cancer. Only about 1 in 100 breast cancers affect men and only about 10 men in a million will develop breast cancer. The incidence of male breast cancer increases with age, with most cases being diagnosed between the ages of 60 and 70 years old. According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2011 an estimated 230,480 women in the United States are expected to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer and about 39,520 are expected to die of the disease. Among men, there will be an estimated 2,140 new cases and 450 deaths.

There is an increased risk of male breast cancer in men with a close female relative that has had breast cancer. Another risk factor exists for men that have had gynecomastia, an abnormal enlargement of a man’s breasts. Gynecomastia can be a side effect of medications or hormone treatments, or even the result from toxins and infections. Klinefelter’s Syndrome, a rare genetic disease in men, is also a risk factor for developing male breast cancer. Also, men with severe liver disease tend to have lower levels of male hormones and higher levels of female hormones, which puts them at increased risk for breast cancer. Male hormones suppress the growth of breast tissue while female hormones stimulate the breasts to develop and grow. Exposure to radiation, certain testicular disorders, obesity, and increased alcohol intake can all pose an increased risk for breast cancer in the male population.

Symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to those noticed by women. Changes in the breast tissue, lumps, nipple pain, inverted nipple, sores on nipple or the area surrounding the nipple (areola), and a clear or bloody discharge from the nipple can all be signs of breast cancer. A firm, non-painful lump around the breast is the most commonly noted sign that prompts men to get checked out by their doctor. If the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, then other signs including weakness, malaise, and weight loss may be noticed. Since breast cancer is such a rarity for men, they tend to put off going to see their doctor when symptoms arise, which may explain why the overall survival rate for men is lower than for women.

Diagnosis of male breast cancer is obtained by the same methods used for female breast cancer. A sample of the tissue in question is obtained by fine needle aspiration, needle biopsy, or surgical biopsy and examined under microscope by pathologists. Since men have less breast tissue than women, the tissue is normally easier to access and biopsy.

Treatments for male breast cancer are the same as those used to treat women, including chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, and surgery. Depending on the stage of the cancer, health of the patient, and patient preference, the doctors will choose an appropriate treatment strategy by determining what stage the cancer is in. Staging involves assigning a number zero through IV where zero is a non-invasive cancer that hasn’t spread and IV describes an invasive cancer that has metastasized from the breast to other parts of the body.

Men with breast cancer have similar survival rates to women when compared by stage. However, overall men have a 25 percent higher mortality rate than women. This is thought to be due to the tendency of men to go to the doctor with breast cancer symptoms at a later point than women when the cancer has gotten to a later stage.

Most men don’t realize they have even the slightest risk for breast cancer. This puts them at greater risk to be diagnosed at a later stage and thus have a lesser chance of survival. Awareness and early intervention is the key to survival, since breast cancer for men or women is very treatable and survivable when detected and treated early on. No matter how minor or insignificant you may think a symptom is, always run things by your physician that seem out of the ordinary. It could save your life.

• WebMD
• National Cancer Institute (cancer.gov)
• Medicinenet.com
• Mayoclinic.com