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Breast cancer in men

Show Alternative Names
Infiltrating ductal carcinoma - male
Ductal carcinoma in situ - male
Intraductal carcinoma - male
Inflammatory breast cancer - male
Paget disease of the nipple - male
Breast cancer - male

Breast cancer is cancer that starts in breast tissue. Both males and females have breast tissue. This means that anyone, including men and boys, can develop breast cancer.

Breast cancer in men is rare. Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancers.

Video Transcript

Breast cancer - Animation

Of all the different types of cancers, breast cancer is one of the most talked about, and with good reason. One out of every eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in their life. That's why every woman should be thinking about how to protect herself from this disease. Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the breast. Usually, it begins in the tubes that transport milk from the breast to the nipple. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the breast or body, it's called invasive breast cancer. Some breast cancers are more aggressive, growing more quickly than others. Although women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer, men can also get the disease because they do have breast tissue. You're more likely to get breast cancer if you're over 50, you started your periods before age 12, or you have a close family member with the disease. Drinking more than a couple of glasses of alcohol a day and using hormone replacement therapy for several years also may increase your risk. The telltale sign of breast cancer is a lump in your breast or armpit. You may also notice a change in the shape, size, or texture of your breast, or have fluid coming from your nipple when you're not breastfeeding. If you notice any changes in your breasts, call your doctor. You'll probably need to have an imaging scan, such as a mammogram, MRI, or ultrasound. A piece of tissue may be removed from your breast, called a biopsy. With these tests, your doctor can tell whether you have breast cancer, and if so, determine whether or not it has spread. So, how do we treat breast cancer? That really depends on the type of cancer, and how quickly it's spreading. Your doctor may recommend that you have the cancer removed with surgery. Sometimes it's enough just to remove the lump. That's called a lumpectomy. In other cases, the doctor will need to remove the entire breast to get rid of all the cancer or prevent it from coming back. That's called a mastectomy. Other treatments for breast cancer include chemotherapy, medicines that kill cancer cells, and radiation therapy, which uses energy to destroy cancer. Women whose cancer is fueled by the hormone estrogen may receive hormone therapy to block the effects of estrogen on their cancer. Today's breast cancer treatments are better than ever. Many women who have breast cancer go on to live long, healthy lives. The outlook really depends on how fast the tumor is growing, and how far it has spread. That's why it's so important to report any changes in your breasts to your doctor as soon as you notice them. Women who are at an especially high risk for breast cancer because of their family history can talk to their doctor about taking medicine or even having surgery to reduce their risk.

Causes

The cause of breast cancer in men is not clear. But there are risk factors that make breast cancer more likely in men:

  • Exposure to radiation
  • Higher estrogen levels due to factors such as heavy alcohol use, cirrhosis, and obesity
  • Heredity, such as a family history of breast cancer, having a variant BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, and certain genetic disorders, such as Klinefelter syndrome
  • Excess breast tissue (gynecomastia)
  • Older age -- men are often diagnosed with breast cancer between ages 60 and 70

Symptoms

Symptoms of breast cancer in men include:

  • Lump or swelling in the breast tissue. One breast may be larger than the other.
  • A small lump beneath the nipple.
  • Unusual changes in the nipple or skin around the nipple such as redness, scaling, or puckering.
  • Nipple discharge.

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will take your medical history and family medical history. You will have a physical exam and a breast exam.

Your provider may order other tests, including:

If cancer is found, your provider will order other tests to find out:

  • How it has spread
  • What treatments might be best
  • What are the chances that the cancer might come back

The tests may include:

The biopsy and other tests will be used to grade and stage the tumor. The results of those tests will help determine your treatment.

Treatment

Treatment options for breast cancer in men include:

  • Surgery to remove the breast, lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over chest muscles, and chest muscles, if needed
  • Radiation therapy after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and to target specific tumors
  • Chemotherapy to kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body or to lower the risk of the cancer returning after surgery
  • Hormone therapy to block hormones that may help certain types of breast cancer grow

During and after treatment, your provider may ask you to have more tests. This may include a repeat of tests you had to make the diagnosis.

Support Groups

Cancer affects how you feel about yourself and your life. You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have had the same experiences and problems can help you feel less alone. The group can also point you to helpful resources for managing your condition.

Ask your provider to help you find a support group of men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The long-term outlook for men with breast cancer is excellent when the cancer is found and treated early.

  • About 91% of men treated before the cancer has spread to other areas of the body are cancer-free after 5 years.
  • Almost 3 out of 4 men treated for cancer that has spread to lymph nodes but not to other areas of the body are cancer-free at 5 years.
  • Men who have cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body have a smaller chance of long-term survival.

Possible Complications

Complications include side effects from surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider right away if you notice something unusual about your breast, including any lumps, skin changes, or discharge.

Prevention

There is no clear way to prevent breast cancer in men. The best way to protect yourself is to:

  • Know that men can develop breast cancer
  • Know your risk factors and talk with your provider about screening and early detection with tests if needed
  • Know the possible signs of breast cancer
  • Tell your provider if you notice any changes in your breast
Review Date: 8/21/2024

Reviewed By

Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

Farr DE, Gradishar WJ. Male breast cancer. In: Klimberg VS, Gradishar WJ, Bland KI, Korourian S, White J, Copeland EM, eds. Bland and Copeland's The Breast. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 67.

Kimberg VS, Hunt KL. Diseases of the breast. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 35.

National Cancer Institute website. Male breast cancer treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/breast/hp/male-breast-treatment-pdq. Updated January 31, 2024. Accessed August 28, 2024.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Dialysis

Dialysis

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Dialysis

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Dialysis - Animation

Your kidneys are in charge of filtering wastes out of your blood. But, if your kidneys don't work as well as they should, you may need a procedure called dialysis, a process that removes wastes in place of your kidneys. Let's talk about dialysis.

Your kidneys have several important jobs. In addition to filtering your blood, they help maintain just the right balance of water, acids, and minerals in your body. They also function as part of the endocrine system producing hormones. If you've had kidney disease for many years, or your kidneys have suddenly failed because of disease or injury, your doctor may recommend that you have dialysis, a treatment that replaces some of what the kidneys do, removing waste and excess fluid from your blood. It is sometimes used as a holding treatment while awaiting a kidney transplant.

Here's how dialysis works. First, your doctor will need to create an access to reach your blood vessels. If you need dialysis only for a short period of time, that access will be made using a hollow tube, called a catheter. Usually the catheter is placed into a large vein in your neck, chest, or leg near your groin. If you're having dialysis for a longer period of time, you'll need a more permanent access. To create this access, your doctor will connect one of your arteries to one of your veins. Then whenever you have dialysis, a needle is simply placed into this access area.

During each dialysis session, your blood is removed from your body through the needle. It's sent across a special filter, which removes harmful substances from your blood. Then, your clean blood is sent back into your body.

Often, you'll visit a special center for dialysis about three times a week. Each session lasts three to four hours. Or, you may be able to do dialysis right at home three times a week or even daily. Home sessions are shorter, about 2 to 3 hours, and they're easier for your body to tolerate. Before you perform dialysis at home, a nurse will teach you how to place the needle, how to clean the machine, and monitor your blood pressure during treatment.

It's important when you're having dialysis that you do all of your scheduled sessions. Also, call your doctor right away if you have any problems, like swelling, redness, fever, a drop in blood pressure, or bleeding. These could be signs that you've developed an infection or other complication from your dialysis, and need medical attention.

 

Dialysis - Animation

Your kidneys are in charge of filtering wastes out of your blood. But, if your kidneys don't work as well as they should, you may need a procedure called dialysis, a process that removes wastes in place of your kidneys. Let's talk about dialysis.

Your kidneys have several important jobs. In addition to filtering your blood, they help maintain just the right balance of water, acids, and minerals in your body. They also function as part of the endocrine system producing hormones. If you've had kidney disease for many years, or your kidneys have suddenly failed because of disease or injury, your doctor may recommend that you have dialysis, a treatment that replaces some of what the kidneys do, removing waste and excess fluid from your blood. It is sometimes used as a holding treatment while awaiting a kidney transplant.

Here's how dialysis works. First, your doctor will need to create an access to reach your blood vessels. If you need dialysis only for a short period of time, that access will be made using a hollow tube, called a catheter. Usually the catheter is placed into a large vein in your neck, chest, or leg near your groin. If you're having dialysis for a longer period of time, you'll need a more permanent access. To create this access, your doctor will connect one of your arteries to one of your veins. Then whenever you have dialysis, a needle is simply placed into this access area.

During each dialysis session, your blood is removed from your body through the needle. It's sent across a special filter, which removes harmful substances from your blood. Then, your clean blood is sent back into your body.

Often, you'll visit a special center for dialysis about three times a week. Each session lasts three to four hours. Or, you may be able to do dialysis right at home three times a week or even daily. Home sessions are shorter, about 2 to 3 hours, and they're easier for your body to tolerate. Before you perform dialysis at home, a nurse will teach you how to place the needle, how to clean the machine, and monitor your blood pressure during treatment.

It's important when you're having dialysis that you do all of your scheduled sessions. Also, call your doctor right away if you have any problems, like swelling, redness, fever, a drop in blood pressure, or bleeding. These could be signs that you've developed an infection or other complication from your dialysis, and need medical attention.

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
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