Men Can Get Breast Cancer Too. Here’s What To Look For

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While breast cancer predominantly impacts women, today we’re going to discuss the rare but very real impact of male breast cancer. 

While it’s true that women make up the majority of new breast cancer cases, Susan G. Komen estimates that men make up 1% of new breast cancer diagnoses every year. The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000 for men in the U.S. compared to 1 in 8 for women in the U.S. Those odds may sound fairly small, but it adds up to about 2,670 new cases of invasive male breast cancer expected this year. Men also make up 530 of breast cancer deaths yearly. 

So with the reality established, you may be wondering what symptoms you should be looking for when it comes to male breast cancer. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms include A painless lump or thickening of the skin on the chest. Changes to the skin covering the chest, such as dimpling, puckering, scaling, or changes in skin color. Changes to the nipple, such as changes in skin color or scaling, a nipple that begins to turn inward, or discharge or bleeding from the nipple.

Several risk factors can make a breast cancer diagnosis more likely for men. The first is age, as most male breast cancer diagnoses occur after 50, with 69 being the median age. Obesity, liver disease, and a family history of breast cancer are also some of the major risk factors. 

One of the biggest risk factors is genetic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Both genes are integral to your body’s ability to fight cancer. 

From the CDC:

When they work normally, these genes help keep breast, ovarian, and other types of cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way.

Sometimes, changes or “mutations” occur that prevent genes from doing their job properly. This raises a person’s risk for breast, ovarian, and other cancers. About 3% of breast cancers and 10% of ovarian cancers result from mutations in BRCA genes. If your mother or father has a BRCA gene mutation, you have a 50% chance of having the same gene mutation.

Breast and ovarian cancers can also be caused by mutations in other genes. These mutations might be found through genetic testing.

As a man, I know there is a tendency among us to just grin and bear it whenever we’re dealing with bodily pain or illness. That tendency can be counterproductive and ultimately lead to harmful outcomes. While men have the same mortality rate as women when it comes to breast cancer, men are often diagnosed at a later stage of cancer. 

This is important for Black men in particular, as we have the highest incidence rate when it comes to male breast cancer diagnoses, as well as the highest mortality rate. So please, if you notice any changes in your breast area or are feeling any of the aforementioned symptoms, go to your primary care provider. The sooner you find out what’s going on with your body, the sooner you can receive treatment and avoid a potentially bleak prognosis. 

SEE ALSO:

The Cost of Treating Black Men’s Health Like a Joke

‘Wellness In Black Life’ Panel Focuses On Black Men’s Health