- Klinefelter syndrome: Males with this syndrome are born with an extra X chromosome and have higher estrogen levels compared with other males. As a result, they can develop gynecomastia, which is the growth of breast tissue in males. This syndrome can increase the chance of developing breast cancer by 20–60 timesTrusted Source.
- Genetic mutations: Mutations in the CHEK2, PTEN, and PALB2 genes can lead to breast cancer in males.
- Testicular conditions: These include having an undescended testicle, having one or more testicles surgically removed, or having mumps as an adult. Mumps can lead to a decrease in the size of the testicle.
Risk factors for females
According to the American Cancer Society, female-specific risk factors include:
- Being female: Females have a much higher rate of getting breast cancer than males.
- Menstrual factors: According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, starting menstruation before age 12 and beginning menopause after 55 are breast cancer risk factors.
- Reproductive factors: Giving birth for the first time at an older age or never giving birth increases the risk.
- Dense breast tissue: The ACS notes that lumps can be more difficult to detect in females than males since female breast tissue tends to be denser.
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How The Condition Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing breast cancer in men can take a similar track to what happens in women. The first thing your doctor will do is a physical examination of your breast to determine if there are any abnormal growths. Depending on the result of this examination, you may need to undergo imaging tests such as an ultrasound, a mammogram, or an X-ray.
Your doctor may also request a biopsy of the growth so the tissue can be assessed in more detail. The sample will let your doctor know which cells are involved in the growth, how aggressive the cancer cells are, as well as if any hormone receptors are present.
The results of your biopsy may also trigger more extensive tests like a bone scan, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or positron emission tomography (PET) scan. All this information will help your doctor finalize the stage and nature of the disease. While the most common kinds of breast cancer in men are invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ, those aren’t the only options.
How Breast Cancer Is Treated
There are several treatment options for breast cancer in men so your doctor will choose your regimen based on your diagnosis. Hormone therapy is usually the first choice if your cancer has estrogen receptors. However, if you don’t respond to hormone therapy, your doctor might recommend radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy instead. These therapies all have different side effects so it will be important to discuss these with your doctor so they can give you a plan to manage them.
The final treatment route is surgery and this is used to remove cancerous cells from specific parts of the body. Generally, a surgeon will remove tissue from the breast and the glands under the armpit. Your nipple and some muscle may also be removed.
Though breast cancer is considered rare in men, it can still affect a decent number of the population. This is especially true for Black Americans. If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms listed above, it’s critical that you consult your doctor as soon as possible.