What are the risk factors?
As a male, your chance of developing breast cancer is quite low. That said, it is important to be made aware of the risks contributing to breast cancer to have an accurate understanding of your health risks. As outlined by the CDC, these include:
Age. Many breast cancers are discovered after age 40.
Certain inherited genetic mutations. For instance, mutations of genes such as BRCA2 (breast cancer susceptibility gene 2) increase your risk of breast cancer.
Medical therapies such as radiation therapy to the chest or hormone therapies containing estrogen may increase your risk.
Older men who are overweight or are considered obese have a higher risk of breast cancer.
If breast or ovarian cancer is common in your family.
Liver disease
Klinefelter syndrome
What can be done to reduce your risk?
Should a family member who has breast cancer consider asking if they are aware of any mutation of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes? Perhaps consider speaking to your doctor about finding out for yourself.
Perform a monthly self-exam. It is easy to do and is the best way for you to track your breast health, helping to catch breast cancer in earlier stages and increase your chances of success.
Do your part to reduce the stigma against and raise awareness of male breast cancer! Ask your family members when the last time they have checked themselves.
The main reason is they do not have routine screening mammograms like women do to find breast cancer at an early stage when it is easier to treat.
And since men may not know they can get breast cancer, they are usually not on the lookout for changes in their breast tissue and may not realize they should talk to their doctor about a lump, pain, swelling, or other symptoms.
Doctors say that men should be familiar with how their breast tissue normally looks and feels so they can be aware of any changes.
The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chances it can be successfully treated.
The outcomes of men with breast cancer are about the same as those of women diagnosed at the same age and stage.
If you are a man who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, it is worth finding out if you can enroll in a clinical trial of a treatment that might be beneficial for you.
Some men who have had breast cancer say they felt especially shocked and isolated by their diagnosis because everyone views breast cancer as a women’s disease.
Many say they had never met other men who had breast cancer. It is important to know that support is available through groups like the Male Breast Cancer Coalition.
Risk factors for male breast cancer.
Several factors are known to increase the risk that a man will develop breast cancer.
However, it is important to know that many men who develop breast cancer do not have any of these risk factors.
Factors that can increase a man’s breast cancer risk include:
Growing older the risk of male breast cancer increases as you age.
The average age of men diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States is about sixty-seven.
But breast cancer can occur in young men, too.
Family history of breast cancer
A man’s risk for breast cancer is higher if any of his close relatives have had breast cancer, especially if any male relatives have had the disease.
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