A note on terms: 

Breast cancer can affect anybody, and everybody is welcome in CoppaFeel!’s community. We’re actively inclusive in our language and we ask people how they want to be described. 

The word ‘chest’ is inclusive of all bodies and genders. When we need to be clinically accurate we use the word ‘breast’. You might prefer to call your chest something else, and that’s ok!

When we say breasts, we mean the part of your body from your rib cage up to your collarbone and armpits, including your nipples. This is where everyone has breast tissue, and people of all genders can get breast cancer. We often use the words ‘breasts’ and ‘chest’ in our breast cancer information.  

Can men get breast cancer?

Breast cancer in men

Everyone has breast tissue –guys, gals,non-binary pals, and it might be a surprise to know that nearly 400 men a year get breast cancer in the UK.

Breast cancer in men is not common, but it can happen. If you’re a man, you should still be checking your chest. Most men who get breast cancer are over 60, but it does sometimes happen in young men too.

What are the causes of male breast cancer?

There aren’t really any direct causes of breast cancer, athough there are some risk factors that can increase the chances of men developing breast cancer:

• Ageing.
• Exposure to x-rays and radiotherapy.
• Family history of breast cancer or a changed gene which increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Higher oestrogen levels. 

Ageing

Most cases of male breast cancer affect men in their 60s. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do to prevent ageing, which is why we call this a risk factor rather than a direct cause. The best thing you can do is to check your chest every month, know your normal and speak to your GP if you find something you’re concerned about.

X-rays

Having an x-ray scan or radiotherapy can expose you to radiation, which can increase the chances of men developing breast cancer.

Some breast screening scans like mammography involve taking an x-ray image of the breast. This is why they aren’t offered to people under the age of 50, as exposure to this radiation can cause more harm than good.

Family History

Men with a family history of breast cancer have a higher risk of getting breast cancer themselves. Some people have a changed gene that runs in their family which means there is a higher risk of developing breast cancer. This change is in the BRCA gene.

About 10 in 100 cases of breast cancer in men are caused by a change in the BRCA gene. 

If you are a man who has a changed BRCA gene, your risk of getting breast cancer is still low. If you are worried you have the gene change, talk to your GP. 

Higher oestrogen levels

All men produce a hormone called oestrogen, as well as testosterone. Men tend to produce more testosterone than oestrogen, however sometimes they can produce more oestrogen. This can be due to health conditions, like obesity and liver conditions.

Men with higher oestrogen levels have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

What is gynaecomastia?

Gynaecomastia is a common condition that causes a man’s chest area to swell. This condition isn’t serious and is rarely a sign of cancer. Although not serious, it can be alarming and if you think you have gynaecomastia you should visit your GP if you’re worried.

Gynaecomastia tends to affect teenage boys and older men, with natural changes like puberty and getting older being the main causes. 2 in 3 teenage boys get gynaecomastia and 9 out of 10 times it gets better on its own.

What should I do if I’m worried about a symptom?

If you’re worried about a symptom, you should speak to your GP. If they’re concerned about a sign or symptom, they may send you for tests like a breast screening.

A breast screening is a scan that can diagnose (find) breast cancer. You may have:

– An ultrasound scan (a scan that uses high frequency waves to show an image of your chest) 

– A mammogram which is an x-ray of the chest.

If these tests are not clear or show an area that could be cancer, you will have a sample of the tissue taken (biopsy).

A specialist will then diagnose the sample to see if it is cancerous. If these samples show you have breast cancer, you’ll be sent for further tests or treatment.

What are the treatments for male breast cancer?

If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, the treatment you’ll have will be similar as it is for women. There are many things which can affect the type of treatment, like:

• The size of the cancer and where it has spread to.
• What the cancer cells look like under the microscope.
• Your general health and whether you have any other medical conditions.

Once they’ve looked at your condition, the doctors and specialists will discuss the treatment options with you. These may include:

• Surgery to remove part of the breast tissue, skin and nipple (mastectomy).
• Chemotherapy (drugs that kill or stop cancer cells from spreading). 
• Radiotherapy (radiation, like x-rays, that kill cancer cells and shrink tumours).
• Hormone therapy (stops the growth of breast cancer cells by blocking hormones like oestrogen).
• Targeted cancer medication.