Men & Breast Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates about 2,500 new cancer of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2018. Breast cancer in men is typically a form of breast cancer called Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma (IDC).

A man has a 1 in 1000 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer in his lifetime. (Source: American Cancer Society)

Chest size in men has nothing to do with breast cancer risk. All men have breast tissue that can become cancerous. While genetics do play a part in risk of breast cancer men, such as carrying the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, men with no family history are still at risk, just like breast cancer in women.

Men generally face a higher mortality rate than women due to lack of awareness of the signs and symptoms, causing a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Just like women, men would benefit from checking their chests once a month.