Yes, men can develop breast cancer. It is uncommon, with men only accounting for around 200 of the estimated 20,500 breast cancer cases diagnosed in Australia each year. Despite its rarity, men are still encouraged to check themselves regularly and see their doctor to investigate any changes or lumps in their breast region.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is defined as an abnormal growth of cells in the breast. In most cases, breast cancer starts forming in the breast ducts, or lobules, and can grow into tumours. The cancer can then become invasive, spreading from the ducts to the surrounding breast tissue, and possibly further throughout the body.
What can cause breast cancer in men ?
There is a combination of biological and lifestyle risk factors which can increase the risk of men developing breast cancer. However, it is worth noting that the chances of developing breast cancer remain relatively low in men as they only have small amounts of breast tissue compared to women.
Some of the biological risk factors include getting older; having a family history of breast cancer in first-degree relatives who carry the BRCA2 gene; or having several relatives who have had colon, prostate, or ovarian cancer. Lifestyle factors, which can increase the risk of breast cancer in both men and women, include drinking alcohol and a lack of physical activity.
What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men?
Breast cancer symptoms can be similar for both men and women. They can include a lump forming in the breast, a change in the shape of the breast or nipple, swollen lymph nodes in the armpit area, and discharge coming from the nipple. Other symptoms could include a thickening of the breast tissue, dimpling of the skin of the breast, or pain in the breast area.
Not every breast change in men means cancer. In some cases, similar symptoms could point to conditions such as gynaecomastia, a benign and non-cancerous enlargement of one or both breasts. Men are recommended to go see their GP if they experience any of the above symptoms or sudden changes in their breast area.
When should men get checked for breast cancer?
Alongside regular self-checks, men should go see their GP if they notice any changes in their breasts or lumps.
For men like South Australian breast cancer survivor Robert, his diagnosis started with accidentally discovering a lump on his chest.
“I was lying in bed one day and … I was going to itch my head or something, but I brought my arm up the side of my body and I thought, ‘Oh, what’s that lump?’” he says.
Robert was diagnosed with breast cancer after he accidentally discovered a lump on his chest.
After a visit to his GP and a referral for a full body scan, Robert learned he had stage 3 breast cancer on one side of his chest, and stage 1 on the other. He then faced a double mastectomy and eight rounds of chemotherapy before he was declared cancer free.
Now, Robert is passionate about raising awareness for breast cancer in men and highlighting the importance of doing regular self-checks.
“I was lucky I just happened to find it, purely by accident. That’s what scares me,” he says.
“The only way we can test ourselves is to feel it. It seems a bit silly, going in the shower and touching yourself up.
“There’s no test out there for men. Granted, it’s a bit harder because we don’t have the tissue.”
Robert underwent a double mastectomy as part of his treatment for breast cancer.
How is breast cancer usually diagnosed in men?
After seeing a GP for an initial exam, men could be referred on for more in-depth tests. Tests to diagnose breast cancer in men could include a mammogram, a breast ultrasound, or a tissue biopsy. A doctor may ask for a combination of these three tests to confirm a diagnosis.
Is breast cancer treatment different for men?
Treatment will be different for each individual and will depend on the cancer type, location, and what stage it is in at the time of diagnosis.
Cancer Connect 13 11 20 nurse Bianca says the approach to treating breast cancer in both men and women is broadly similar.
“Treatment for men is generally the same as it is for women. Although quite rare in men, the types of breast cancer found in men are also similar to those found in women,” Bianca says.
“Treatment options for men include surgery such as a mastectomy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy—all treatment options also used to treat breast cancer in women.”
How effective is treatment for breast cancer?
Treatment will vary depending on the cancer type and stage at the time of diagnosis. Breast cancer treatment in Australia is overall quite effective, especially when it is found early. According to Cancer Australia, there is around a 92 per cent chance of surviving five years beyond a breast cancer diagnosis.
