Male Breast Cancer

With Father’s Day just behind, Koning would like to bring more attention to male breast cancer. While it is common knowledge that breast cancer occurs mainly in women, many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer, too. Male breast cancer diagnoses can often be delayed because of how unlikely the condition is.

Statistics show just how rare the disease is; the most common male cancer is prostate cancer, with a yearly case amount of 268,000 compared to the male breast cancer equivalent of 2,700. To contrast, 287,000 women are annually diagnosed with breast cancer in the US. 

So, what causes male breast cancer? Genetics are a major factor, but conditions that can increase the level of estrogen in the body including obesity and scarring of the liver. Usually men who develop breast cancer are in their 70s, but younger men in their 30s can develop it as well. 

While men do not require annual scans because breast cancer is so incredibly rare, all men should monitor their health and pay careful attention to any changes in their bodies and breasts. Any changes in the chest area should be reported to a doctor as awareness of the symptoms is key in early detection. With the recommended treatments, the survival rate for male breast cancer patients is equal to women’s.

Source: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer-men/statistics