Male breast cancer is a rare medical condition, accounting for only about 1% of all breast cancers, but it does […]
Male breast cancer is a rare medical condition, accounting for only about 1% of all breast cancers, but it does happen. Breast cancer is 100 times more common in women than in men. Most cases of male breast cancer are detected in men between the ages of 60 and 70, although the condition can develop in men of any age. Breast cancer incidence rates in men have remained fairly stable over the past 30 years.
A large study found that men diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer are more likely to die from the disease than women.
The lower breast cancer survival rate in men was only seen in people diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. For people diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer, survival was about the same for men and women.
Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue too, and those cells can undergo cancerous changes.
The most common symptoms of breast cancer in men include:
- thickening of the breast tissue
- a lump in the breast tissue
- nipple discharge
- redness or scaling of the nipple
- a nipple that retracts or turns inward
- unexplained redness, swelling, skin irritation, itchiness, or rash on the breast
Many of the symptoms of breast cancer can also be symptoms of something else. Only your doctor can tell for sure. If you have any of these, make an appointment with your doctor.
Since most men do not regularly check their breast tissue for signs of lumps, male breast cancer is often diagnosed much later.