Breast Cancer in Men: The Reality We Don’t Talk About

Do you know that men can get breast cancer too?
Yes… it might surprise you! Breast cancer is not just a “women’s disease” since men have breasts too. According to the World Health Organization, about 0.5 to 1% of breast cancers occur in men.1
Men’s breast tissues can change in the same ways as women’s breast tissue, which means that breast/chest self-checks are just as important for men. Men need to know what their chests usually look and feel like to be able to spot any changes and tell a doctor right away.
Most men don’t hear much about breast cancer. Because it’s not talked about, men don’t know or understand their risks. This can delay diagnosis, make treatment harder, and lead to worse outcomes.2
Some things that can increase a man’s risk of breast cancer: 3
• Getting older
• Family history of breast cancer
• Certain gene changes/mutations (like BRCA2, CHEK2, PTEN, ATM, and PALB2)
• Klinefelter Syndrome (a condition in which men an extra X chromosome)
• Past radiation treatment for cancers like lymphoma
• Drinking a lot of alcohol
• Liver disease
• Estrogen treatment
• Extra body weight
• Problems with the testicles
The American Cancer Society recommends keeping a healthy weight and avoiding gaining extra weight. Eating healthy and staying active helps. Since alcohol can raise your cancer risk, it’s best not to drink — or no more than two drinks in a day.3
Moderate to vigorous exercise/physical activity has been linked to a lower risk of breast cancer in women and may help men too. The American Cancer Society recommends at least 150–300 minutes of moderate activity/exercise or 75–150 minutes of vigorous (harder) activity/exercise per week — or a mix of moderate and intense activity.
The key to surviving breast cancer is early detection and good treatment. Catching it early can make a big difference.

References:
1. World Health Organization (WHO). (2025). Breast cancer. Retrieved August 13, 2025, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer

2. Co, M., Lee, A., & Kwong, A. (2020). Delayed presentation, diagnosis, and psychosocial aspects of male breast cancer Journal of Cancer Medicine, 9(10), 3305–3309. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.2953
3. American Cancer Society. (2025). Causes, risk factors, and prevention of breast cancer in men. Retrieved November 10, 2025, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer-in-men/causes-risks-prevention.html