Male Breast Cancer – Some Facts

male breast cancerWhile breast cancer is largely seen to occur in women, it is not unheard of for men to have it too. There are some facts and figures about male breast cancer:

  • Though male breast cancer is rare, 1% of all breast cancer cases are found to be among men.
  • A man’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is about one in 1,000.
  • An estimated 1,990 new cases of breast cancer in men are diagnosed each year according to the American Cancer Society.
  • Most male breast cancer cases are detected among men between the ages of 60 and 70.
  • The major risk factors for male breast cancer are radiation and a family history of breast cancer.
  • There may be hormonal factors as well that cause male breast cancer – high levels of estrogen could be the cause. Klinefelter’s Syndrome or cirrhosis are associated with higher breast cancer risk among men.
  • The symptoms of breast cancer among men are much the same as those found in women.
  • The treatments and surgeries performed is also much the same in the case of men as it is in the case of women – mastectomy to remove the breast/tumor and chemo, radiation or hormone therapy.