Breast cancer occurs mainly in women, but men can get it, too. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer.

What is your risk?

The lifetime risk of breast cancer for a cisgender man.

Approximately 1 in 833 men will develop breast cancer.

Information as of 2022, courtesy of American Cancer Society

What is your screening recommendation?

Image-based breast cancer screening is not routinely recommended in asymptomatic average-risk men.

Average-risk men

Men with High-risk mutations

Men with Klinefelter syndrome

References

Due to low prevalence and limited data to support male breast cancer screening, there are currently no recommendations for image-based screening in asymptomatic men and few recommendations for men at high risk for breast cancer. If you identify high risk factors for breast cancer, you should speak with your physician to determine if screening is right for you [1].

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2.2022) recommends men who have a BRCA pathogenic variant or likely pathogenic variant undergo the following screening:

Begin breast self-exam training and education starting at age 35 years old.
Clinical breast exam, every 12 months, starting at age 35 years old.
Consider annual mammogram screening in men with gynecomastia starting at age 50 or 10 years before the earliest known male breast cancer in the family (whichever comes first) [2].

Read about self breast examination

Men with Klinefelter syndrome are more likely to get breast cancer than other men. Having this condition can increase the risk anywhere between 20 – 60 times the risk of a man in the general population [3]. However, limited data exists for screening recommendations in this group. It is recommended you speak with your doctor about your personal risk factors and whether you may qualify for screening.

Woods RW, Salkowski LR, Elezaby M, Burnside ES, Strigel RM, Fowler AM. Image-based screening for men at high risk for breast cancer: Benefits and drawbacks. Clin Imaging. 2020 Mar;60(1):84-89. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2019.11.005. Epub 2019 Nov 28. PMID: 31864206; PMCID: PMC7242122. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31864206/
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2022). BRCA-Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic Variant – Positive Management (version 2.2022). Retrieved from https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/genetics_bop.pdf
Gao Y, Heller SL, Moy L. Male Breast Cancer in the Age of Genetic Testing: An Opportunity for Early Detection, Tailored Therapy, and Surveillance. Radiographics. 2018 Sep-Oct;38(5):1289-1311. doi: 10.1148/rg.2018180013. Epub 2018 Aug 3. PMID: 30074858; PMCID: PMC7391126. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7391126/

Information as of Februrary 2022, courtesy of National Comprehensive Cancer Network[2]

Male Breast Cancer.

There are multiple risk factors for development of breast cancer and we want you to be aware of the factors that may increase your risk.

Genetic Mutations

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. BRCA1 mutations can also cause breast cancer in men, but the risk is lower, about 1 in 100.

Although mutations in these genes most often are found in members of families with many cases of breast and/or ovarian cancer, they have also been found in men with breast cancer who did not have a strong family history.

Mutations in CHEK2, PTEN and PALB2 genes might also be responsible for some breast cancers in men.

Family History

Breast cancer risk is increased if other members of the family (blood relatives) have had breast cancer. About 1 out of 5 men with breast cancer have a close relative, male or female, with the disease.

Obesity

Studies have shown that women’s breast cancer risk is increased by obesity (being extremely overweight) after menopause. Obesity is also a risk factor for male breast cancer as well. The reason is that fat cells in the body convert male hormones (androgens) into female hormones (estrogens). This means that obese men have higher levels of estrogens in their body.

Estrogen

Estrogen-related drugs were once used in hormonal therapy for men with prostate cancer. This treatment may slightly increase breast cancer risk.

There is concern that transgender/transsexual individuals who take high doses of estrogens as part of sex reassignment could also have a higher breast cancer risk.

Alcohol & Liver Disease

Heavy drinking (of alcoholic beverages) increases the risk of breast cancer in men. This may be because of its effects on the liver.

The liver plays an important role in balancing the levels of sex hormones. In cases of severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis, the liver is not working well and the hormone levels are uneven, causing lower levels of androgens and higher levels of estrogen. Men with liver disease can also have a higher chance of developing benign male breast growth (gynecomastia) and also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Aging

Aging is an important risk factor for the development of breast cancer in men. The risk of breast cancer goes up as a man ages. On average, men with breast cancer are about 72 years old when they are diagnosed.

Radiation

A man whose chest area has been treated with radiation (such as for the treatment of a cancer in the chest, like lymphoma) has an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Race & Ethnicity

Breast cancer incidence rates were 52% higher in Black men than white men. The higher risk for these cancers persisted across all age groups of Black men [1].

The reasons for the elevated risk of breast cancer among Black men are not known, but the researchers said they reflect differences in the prevalence of risk factors across populations.

Testicular Conditions

Certain conditions, such as having an undescended testicle, having mumps as an adult, or having one or both testicles surgically removed (orchiectomy) may increase male breast cancer risk.

Klinefelter Syndrome

Klinefelter syndrome is a congenital (present at birth) condition that affects about 1 in 1,000 men.

Men with Klinefelter syndrome also have small testicles and are often infertile because they are unable to produce functioning sperm cells. Compared with other men, they have lower levels of androgens (male hormones) and more estrogens (female hormones). For this reason, they often develop gynecomastia (benign male breast growth).

Information as of April 2018, courtesy of American Cancer Society

Resources.

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only.

Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation provides a comprehensive list of county specific resources for women in Florida. Background Information The Florida Breast […]

National Breast and Cervical Cancer Detection Program (NBCCDP).

The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and diagnostic services to women who have […]

Men