Breast cancer in men is rare — less than 1% of all UK cases — but it is not impossible. Around 400 men are diagnosed in the UK every year. Because awareness is low, many men delay seeking help, leading to later diagnoses and worse outcomes than women with the same disease. Knowing the signs could save your life.
Can men get breast cancer?
Yes. All men have a small amount of breast tissue behind the nipple, and breast cancer can develop in that tissue. Male breast cancer most commonly develops in men over 60, though it can occur at any age. Men with BRCA2 gene mutations, Klinefelter syndrome, or a strong family history of breast cancer are at higher risk.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer in men?
The symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to those in women. The NHS advises men to see their GP if they notice any of the following:
- A lump or swelling in the breast, chest area, or armpit — the most common symptom, usually painless.
- Nipple changes — the nipple turning inward (inverted), or a change in its appearance.
- Nipple discharge — especially if bloodstained.
- A sore or rash on or around the nipple that does not heal.
- Skin changes on the breast — dimpling, puckering, or redness.
Because men have much less breast tissue than women, lumps are often closer to the nipple and may be noticed sooner — but many men still delay because they do not associate the symptom with breast cancer.
Why is male breast cancer often diagnosed late?
Several factors contribute to late diagnosis in men:
- Low awareness: Most public breast cancer messaging is aimed at women. Many men do not know they have breast tissue or that they can develop breast cancer.
- Embarrassment or delay: Some men feel embarrassed discussing a breast symptom with their GP and wait for it to resolve on its own.
- No screening programme: Unlike women aged 50–71, men are not invited for routine breast screening. All diagnoses in men come through symptomatic presentation.
- Gynecomastia confusion: Benign breast enlargement (gynecomastia) is common in men and is sometimes confused with or used to explain away a symptomatic lump.
What happens after seeing a GP?
A GP who is concerned about a breast symptom in a man will refer to a breast clinic under the two-week-wait urgent referral pathway — the same pathway used for women. At the breast clinic, you will have a triple assessment: clinical examination, imaging (usually ultrasound, sometimes mammography), and a core biopsy if a lump is found. Waiting for this appointment is stressful, but most referrals do not result in a cancer diagnosis.
Treatment and outcomes for male breast cancer
Treatment for male breast cancer follows similar principles to female breast cancer — surgery (usually mastectomy rather than lumpectomy, due to smaller tissue volumes), radiotherapy, hormone therapy (over 90% of male breast cancers are hormone receptor-positive and respond well to tamoxifen), and sometimes chemotherapy. Overall survival rates are broadly similar to women with equivalent-stage disease. The worse average outcomes seen in men are largely due to later stage at diagnosis, not to the biology of the disease being more aggressive.