General Information About Male Breast Cancer
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Men's breasts also have milk ducts and glandular tissue (although less than in women). Approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases occur in men.
A painless and hard lump felt on or around the nipple, inward inversion of the nipple, puckering/thickening of the skin, redness, and rarely a bloody discharge from the nipple.
Advanced age (generally over 60), obesity, diseases that increase estrogen levels like liver cirrhosis, and especially being a carrier of a family BRCA2 gene mutation significantly increase the risk of cancer in men.
Gynecomastia is benign breast tissue enlargement in men and is not a direct precursor to cancer. However, any kind of tissue enlargement/lump should be examined by a physician for differential diagnosis.
Just like in women, an Ultrasound or Mammography is performed after a physical examination in male patients. A definitive diagnosis is made through a Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy from the mass.
Surgical removal of the cancerous breast and the lymph nodes in the armpit on that side (Mastectomy) is the primary treatment. Depending on the tumor's stage and hormone sensitivity, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormone-suppressing drugs (Tamoxifen) are applied.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
