Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Breast cancer in men

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, we are taking the chance to raise awareness of breast cancer in men. In this blog, written by editor Elissia, we explain more about how breast cancer can affect men.

Breast cancer in men
Many people don’t know that men can get breast cancer. They probably don’t think that men actually have breast tissue.

But men do have a small amount of breast tissue behind their nipples. Breast cancer can develop in this area. Each year, around 390 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK.

Cross section of the male breast

What causes breast cancer in men?
The causes of breast cancer in men aren’t fully understood yet. But there are some things that can increase a man’s risk of developing it.

These risk factors include: 

• being older – breast cancer in men is most common in men aged over 60
• having Klinefelter syndrome – this is when you are born with two or more X chromosomes
• having close family member (parent, child or sibling) who have had breast cancer – breast cancer is sometimes linked to an inherited breast cancer gene
• higher levels of oestrogen than normal – caused by long-term damage to the liver or heavy drinking over a long period of time
• conditions that damage the testicles – such as undescended testicles or mumps as an adult.

It’s important to remember that breast cancer in men is rare, and most men who have these risk factors will never develop it. But if you are worried, talk to your GP.

What are the symptoms?
The first thing you might notice is a painless lump under the nipple. Other symptoms may include:

• a nipple turning in (inverted)
• swelling of the breast tissue
• a rash (like eczema) around the nipple
• discharge or bleeding from the nipple
• a swelling or lump in the armpit
• an ulcer on the skin of the breast.

If you notice a change to the way your chest looks or feels, you should see your GP straight away. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed and treated, the more successful treatment is likely to be.

Are there different types of breast cancer?
Yes, there are different types of breast cancer. The two main types are:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This is the earliest form of breast cancer. The cancer cells are only in the ducts of the breast. DCIS is quite rare in men – less than 1 in 10 (10%) of breast cancers in men are DCIS.
• Invasive breast cancer. The cancer cells have spread outside the lining of the ducts and into surrounding breast tissue. This is the most common type of breast cancer in men. There are two types of invasive breast cancer: invasive ductal breast cancer (most common in men) and invasive lobular breast cancer (rare in men).

Where can I get more information and support?
You can read more about breast cancer in men in our booklet Understanding breast cancer in men. We also have information about breast cancer on our website.

You can call our cancer support specialists on 0808 808 00 00, or you could visit our Online Community to talk to other people affected by cancer and get support.

To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.

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The Macmillan team is here to help. Our cancer support specialists can answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00.

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