Breast cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the breast tissue. Although male breasts do not fully develop, they do contain most of the same basic breast structures as women. Male breasts include small glands called lobules, ducts, and the nipple. These structures are also surrounded by fatty tissue. All of these structures are susceptible to developing breast cancer.
Breast cancer in men is rare. This makes awareness of the disease uncommon.
Types of breast cancer found in men are:
- Infiltrating ductal carcinoma—Cancer starts in the ducts of the breast and spreads into surrounding tissues. This is the most common type of breast cancer in men.
- Ductal carcinoma in situ—Early stage cancer confined to the ducts. This type has the highest cure rate.
- Infiltrating lobular carcinoma—A rare cancer that starts in the lobules of the breast and spreads into surrounding tissues.
- Paget disease—A rare cancer that starts in the ducts and spreads to the nipple and areola.
- Inflammatory—A rare, but aggressive cancer that occurs with visible changes in the skin around the breast and nipple.
Cancer occurs when cells in the body divide without control or order. Eventually these uncontrolled cells form a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant growths. These growths can invade nearby tissues including the lymph nodes. Cancer that has invaded the lymph nodes can then spread to other parts of the body. The lymph nodes most commonly associated with breast cancer are in the armpit, above the collarbone, and in the chest.
It is not clear exactly what causes these problems in the cells, but is probably a combination of genetics and environment.
Cancer Cell Growth
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Breast cancer is more common in men aged 65 years and older. Other factors that may increase your risk of developing breast cancer include:
- Family history of breast cancer
- Genetic mutations, such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and others
- Exposure to radiation, especially in the chest
- Exposure to increased levels of estrogen, which may occur with:
When breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. As the cancer grows, it can cause the following changes:
- One or more lumps in the breast, which may or may not be painful
- One or more lumps in lymph nodes near the breast, under your arm, or collarbone that which may or may not be painful
- Changes in the skin or nipple, such as dimpling, puckering, or nipple retraction
- Redness, irritation, or ulceration of the skin in the breast area
- Discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. This includes a thorough manual breast exam and blood tests.
Diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy. A tissue sample will be removed and examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells.
Imaging tests can help with diagnosis and determine the extent of cancer. These may include:
The physical exam, combined with all of your test results, will help to determine the type and stage of cancer you have. Staging is used to guide your treatment plan. Breast cancer in men is staged from 1-4. Stage 1 is a very localized cancer, while stage 4 indicates a spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells may also be graded by how fast they might grow and spread.
Cancer treatment varies depending on the stage and type of cancer.
A combination of therapies is most effective. For example, radiation may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor, or after to make sure all the cancer has been removed.
Treatment options include:
The goal of surgery is to remove the tumors and any affected tissue.
Surgical procedures include:
- Modified radical mastectomy—Removal of the whole breast, the lymph nodes under the arm and, often, the lining over the chest muscles. This is the most common procedure.
- Radical mastectomy—Removal of the whole breast, the lymph nodes under the arm, and the chest wall muscles under the breast. This is only done when the tumor is large and growing into the chest muscles.
- Axillary lymph node dissection—Removal of the lymph nodes under the arm. This is done to help determine whether cancer cells have entered the lymphatic system.
- Sentinel node biopsy—A small amount of blue dye and/or a radioactive tracer is placed in the area where the tumor was located. The lymph nodes that pick up the substance are removed. Those remaining lymph nodes should be removed if any sentinel nodes contain cancer.
Radiation therapy is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink remaining tumors.
Radiation therapy can be:
- External—Radiation directed at the breast or area of spread from a source outside the body.
- Internal—Radioactive materials are placed into the breast or area of spread in or near the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be given in many forms including pill, injection, or IV. The drugs enter the bloodstream. They travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells. Some healthy cells are killed as well, contributing to common side effects.
The following therapies may be used in conjunction with chemotherapy to help treat or to prevent cancer from coming back:
- Biologic therapy—The use of medications or substances made by the body to treat cancer. Biologic response modifier (BRM) therapy is the use of medications to increase or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer.
- Targeted therapy—Uses medications to interfere with specific characteristics that are needed for the growth of the cancer cells. For example, medications can block the growth of new blood vessels or block chemical signals that allow cancer cells to grow and function.
- Hormone blocking therapy—Designed to take advantage of the fact that many breast cancers are estrogen sensitive. Estrogen binds to the estrogen-sensitive cells and stimulates them to grow and divide. Anti-estrogen drugs prevent the binding of estrogen. This stops the cells from growing and prevents or delays breast cancer from returning.
Cancer treatments can cause some side effects like loss of appetite, nausea, anemia, increased risk for infection, or pain. Other medications or treatments may be needed to minimize these problems throughout your cancer treatment.
There are no current guidelines to screen for breast cancer in men. Finding breast cancer early and treating it promptly is the best way to prevent death. Since breast cancer does not cause symptoms in the early stages, be aware of any changes in your body and talk to your doctor about them.
Bradley KL, Tyldesley S, Speers CH, Woods R, Villa D. Contemporary systemic therapy for male breast cancer. Clin Breast Cancer. 2014;14(1):31-39.
Breast cancer in men. American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003091-pdf.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2018.
General information about male breast cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/patient/male-breast-treatment-pdq. Updated September 29, 2017. Accessed March 16, 2018.
Hotko YS. Male breast cancer: clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment. Exp Oncol. 2013;35(4):303-310.
Last reviewed March 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review BoardJames P. Cornell, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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