Male Breast Cancer

For every 100 women that we see with breast cancer, we see one man. Therefore, the risk is low, particularly in comparison to other cancers such as lung, prostate or colon cancer. The National Cancer Registry states that the life-time risk of suffering breast cancer in males is in between 1 in 500 to 1 in 1000, depending on race. Men at any age may develop breast cancer, but it is usually detected between 60 and 80 years of age (compared to women, usually detected from the age of 40). Breast cancer in males is strongly associated with mutations in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes. Therefore all males diagnosed with breast cancer should be referred for genetic counselling and testing.