Breast Cancer in Men What you need to Know

When we think of breast cancer, we often associate this form of cancer with women’s health however, this is not always the case as breast cancer can be found in men as well!

Although much less prevalent in the male population, breast cancer is known to affect men as well,  this article we will break down all the details of how this is possible, why breast cancer affects men, and some lifestyle adjustments you can make to lower your long term risk as a man.

How Does a Man Get Breast Cancer?

The fact is, as humans all of us are born with some amount of breast tissue in our bodies, and much like in women it’s in this tissue where breast cancer in men begins. Although it’s possible for men of any age to develop breast cancer it’s most typically seen in older men between the ages of  60 and 70  years old.

Much like in women age plays a large part in the risk of developing breast cancer, though luckily breast cancer in men is much more of a rare occurrence than it is in women, with a UK study finding that of 56 790 patients with breast cancer, 390 these cases were men representing 0.7% of the total patients in this case with breast cancer.  

There are a few key things to know when dealing with breast cancer in men, firstly the age of heightened risk for most men is generally older comparatively to the risk age for women. Breast cancer in men develops much in the same way as it does for women the key difference being men have less breast tissue and overall men are screened for this cancer far less than women.

This means that men are more unlikely to catch these cancers early, and this is a problem because early detection can be a live saver for so many struggling with breast cancer.   

What Are the Signs of Breast Cancer in Men?

Some of the most common symptoms of breast cancer in men are the following:

1. breast lump
2. thickening of the breast tissue
3. dimpling of the skin of the breast
4. change in the shape of the breast or nipple
5. discharge from the nipple
6. swollen lymph nodes in the armpit area

However it is important to note that none of these symptoms are enough to be definitive proof that you have breast cancer, and reaching a conclusive diagnosis should be done via your doctor after the results of a mammogram are provided and reviewed by your doctor.

Chances of a Man Getting Breast Cancer

The majority of sources place the figure for men at around 1% or less of the existing breast cancer cases, this means the risks are low for you as a man however, there are certain risk factors that can increase your chances of developing breast cancer as a man later in life.

Risk Factors You Can Change

There are a few risk factors for breast cancer that thankfully rest comfortably in the court of what you as an individual can control. These include:

1. Physical Inactivity

A sedentary lifestyle and lower amounts of daily activity contribute to a higher risk of developing breast cancer, as such it should come as no surprise that being overweight in addition to having a more physically inactive lifestyle increases the risk of developing breast cancer even further.

2. Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption is another factor that can increase your risk of developing breast cancer later in life. The reason for this is that consuming alcohol breaks down chemicals such as ethanol which in turn becomes acetaldehyde a known carcinogen.

3. Radiation Exposure

Limit the amount of radiation that reaches your chest, now you might be thinking this isn’t such a big issue, as few people work or regularly frequent radioactive environments. While this is true one thing to watch out for as a man is UV radiation especially since men typically don’t cover their chest at the beach or while spending time in the pool for example.

The good news is you can limit your overall exposure to the sun’s harmful UV radiation by applying sunblock and not staying in the sun without a shirt for extended periods of time.

Remember radiation plays the long game with your health so signs of the negative effects on your health could potentially show up many years after exposure, making applying the appropriate protection in the sun an important habit to form earlier on.

Risk Factors You Can’t Change

1. Your Age

As stated above age is one of the clearest risk indicators for your chances of developing breast cancer.  In women, this is a well-known risk factor, and it is widely accepted that the frequency of mammography tests should be elevated once women reach the age of 40.

In men, however, most of the age-related risk appears to come later in life if that being said men aged 60 upwards should be aware of the risk even if the risk is significantly lower compared to your female counterparts.

2. Your Gender

No surprise that women are at a much greater risk of developing breast cancer than men are. In fact, for men this number is 1 in 830 men while on the other end of the spectrum 1 in 7 women in the UK would go on to develop some form of breast cancer in their lifetime.

3. Your Genetic Predisposition to Cancer

Your family’s history of cancer can significantly sway your overall chances of developing breast cancer, especially as you age. For this reason, those with a history of breast cancer in their family tree should be extra vigilant with their breast health.

Should I be Worried About Breast Cancer as A Man?

While you should keep a healthy tab on your breast health, cases of breast cancer in men are rare and not something the everyday man needs to typically worry about. This is not to say men shouldn’t worry at all about breast cancer however because, as you get older your risk of developing breast cancer goes up.

This is true for both men and women, and as such it may be a healthy practice to get a mammogram if you’re displaying any of the symptoms above and consult your doctor, if nothing else this should give you the peace of mind your looking for as you move forward with your life.