Did You Know Men Can Get Breast Cancer?
In June of 2026, ‘X-Men’ star and former wrestler Tyler Mane announced that he had been diagnosed with breast cancer. He did so to raise awareness that men can get breast cancer, too. Doctors across the United States applauded his openness.
“Talk of breast cancer is often ‘shrouded in pink,’” one expert said, “which can lead to less awareness among men about potential risk factors and symptoms.”
According to the American Cancer Society, less than 1% of breast cancers in the United States occur in men. In 2026:
- About 2,670 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
- About 530 men will die from breast cancer.
How common is breast cancer in men?
The average lifetime risk of getting breast cancer for a man is one in 755. While the risk of breast cancer is low for men, the following factors may increase an individual’s risk:
- Getting older: The risk of getting breast cancer increases as a man ages. The average age of diagnosis is 60-70 years old.
- Family history: If any blood-related relatives have had breast cancer, the risk increases.
- Inherited gene mutations: The most common causes of hereditary breast cancer are inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
- Klinefelter syndrome: A congenital condition in which the man has an extra X-chromosome. (Men should have one Y-chromosome and one X-chromosome).
- Chest radiation: Such as radiation therapy for cancer in the chest
- Heavy alcohol use
- Liver disease
- Estrogen treatment: May be used in hormone therapy for prostate cancer as well as gender-affirming hormone treatment
- Obesity/excess body weight
- Testicular conditions: Having an undescended testicle or having one or both testicles surgically removed (orchiectomy)
What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men?
Signs of breast cancer in men are similar to that of women. According to the American Cancer Society, the most common symptom is a lump in the breast. Other symptoms may include:
- Skin dimpling or puckering
- Nipple turning inward/retracting
- Redness or scaling of the nipple or skin over the breast
- Discharge/fluid leaking from the nipple, which might be bloody
- Swelling under the arm or around the collarbone (due to cancer spreading to lymph nodes)
Early detection is important to managing the long-term impact of breast cancer in a man. Men should schedule an appointment with their medical provider if they have signs of breast cancer.
How is breast cancer in a man treated?
If a man is diagnosed with breast cancer, a care team of oncology specialists will support his treatment. Depending on the stage and type of breast cancer and treatment options, this team may include specialists in:
- Breast surgery: Breast surgeon or surgical oncologist
- Radiation oncology: Manages radiation therapy
- Medical oncology: Administers chemotherapy and other prescribed medicines
Recommended treatment may include two or more of the following:
- Surgery to remove the tumor(s)
- Chemotherapy to get cancer-killing drugs to cancer cells throughout the body
- Radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells
- Immunotherapy to boost the man’s immune system and enable it to fight and kill cancer cells
- Hormone therapy to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer
- Targeted drug therapy to stop cancer cells from growing and spreading while limiting damage to healthy cells
Available Resources
For more information on male breast cancer, speak with your primary care provider who can assess your risk and refer you to an oncologist, as appropriate. Additional sources of information include:
