The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023, there will be 2,800 new invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed in men in the United States, and 530 men will die of the disease. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 833. Male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer.
Men get breast cancer, too. Breast cancer is most often thought of as a disease that affects women; many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can also develop breast cancer. Although it is more common in older men (between the ages of 60 and 70), it can occur at any age. Although the overall survival rate for men is the same for women when diagnosed at the same stage of the disease, in general, men are diagnosed at more advanced stages when their breast cancer has progressed and is more difficult to treat, and their overall outlook is less optimistic.
Early detection is key. Finding breast cancer early improves the chances that male breast cancer can be treated successfully. Women tend to be aware of this disease and its possible warning signs, but many men do not think that they can get it at all. Many men ignore breast lumps or think they are caused by an infection or something else, and don’t get medical treatment until the lump becomes large enough to be worrisome. And men are often embarrassed when they find a breast lump and worry that if they tell anyone, they might be thought of as somehow less masculine. All of this often delays an early diagnosis and reduces a man’s chances for successful treatment and ultimately, his survival.
Signs, Symptoms & Risk Factors
A family history of breast cancer and other factors can increase a man’s risk of breast cancer.
Source: Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance
Tests that examine the breasts are used to diagnose breast cancer in men.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
- Physical exam and health history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
- Clinical breast exam(CBE): An exam of the breast by a doctor or other health professional. The doctor will carefully feel the breasts and under the arms for lumps or anything else that seems unusual.
- Mammogram: An x-ray of the breast.
- Ultrasound exam: A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram. The picture can be printed to be looked at later.
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of both breasts. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
- Blood chemistry studies: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease.
- Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. There are four types of biopsies to check for breast cancer:
- Excisional biopsy: The removal of an entire lump of tissue.
- Incisional biopsy: The removal of part of a lump or a sample of tissue.
- Core biopsy: The removal of tissue using a wide needle.
- Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: The removal of tissue or fluid using a thin needle.
If cancer is found, tests are done to study the cancer cells.
Decisions about the best treatment are based on the results of these tests. The tests give information about:
- How quickly the cancer may grow.
- How likely it is that the cancer will spread through the body.
- How well certain treatments might work.
- How likely the cancer is to recur (come back).
Tests include the following:
- Estrogen and progesterone receptor test: A test to measure the amount of estrogen and progesterone (hormones) receptors in cancer tissue. If there are more estrogen and progesterone receptors than normal, the cancer is called estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive. This type of breast cancer may grow more quickly. The test results show whether treatment to block estrogen and progesterone may stop the cancer from growing.
- HER2 test: A laboratory test to measure how many HER2/neu genes there are and how much HER2/neu protein is made in a sample of tissue. If there are more HER2/neu genes or higher levels of HER2/neu protein than normal, the cancer is called HER2/neu positive. This type of breast cancer may grow more quickly and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body. The cancer may be treated with drugs that target the HER2/neu protein, such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab.
From “Male Breast Cancer Treatment” originally published by the National Cancer Institute.
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