Male Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Does Not Discriminate

October is widely known as breast cancer awareness month. But, something not widely known about breast cancer is that men can also get breast cancer. 

While men developing breast cancer is rarer than women, it is not unheard of. The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer as a man is about 1 in 1,000, but that risk still exists. Breast cancer does not discriminate. 

Most of the symptoms for a man who is diagnosed with breast cancer are the same for women who are diagnosed. Some of these symptoms include a painless lump or thickening in the breast tissue, changes to the skin covering the breast, such as dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling, changes to the nipple, such as redness or scaling, or a nipple that begins to turn inward and discharge from the nipple.

While there is no apparent cause for male breast cancer, some men may be at a higher risk. Some factors that make you more susceptible are old age, exposure to estrogen, a family history of breast cancer, liver disease, obesity, testicle disease, and Klinefelter's syndrome. 

When it comes to having a family history of breast cancer, one specific gene that results in a higher risk is the BRCA gene. The BRCA gene increases a man's chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer by about eight times greater than average. 

Men are more often diagnosed with breast cancer at a more advanced stage due to a lack of awareness and information surrounding male breast cancer. Therefore, men need to know what normal male breast tissue feels and looks like on themselves. 

Even though breast cancer in men is rare, it still happens. So especially if you are a man with the BRCA gene, it is important to complete regular screenings and maintain a healthy lifestyle.