Male breast cancer

Breast cancer in men is rare, Lionel, Vic
Breast cancer in men is rare. Although the treatment and journey is similar to women, emotional needs can be different.

Breast cancer in men is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cancers in men, and indeed, less than 1% of all breast cancers.

Rare or not, if you are dealing with breast cancer you will have questions, need information and support tailored to your individual circumstances.

You've probably discovered there is very little information written specifically for men. Remember, this is a medical condition and you should expect the same level of support and compassion from health professionals, family and friends as you would expect if you had bowel or prostate cancer. Indeed, family and friends often don't know what to say or how to support someone with cancer, no matter what type of cancer it is.

It often helps to break the ice if you take the lead and talk openly about your cancer. This sends the message that you are comfortable talking about your cancer and that it's nothing to be ashamed of.

"Everything I picked up was geared to women, so I put it down. I went to a couple of cancer courses, one was the Living with cancer education program, and I found that very helpful." -- Norman, Kalamunda, Western Australia

Men and the BRCA2 gene

The BRCA2 gene mutation is a hereditary gene fault that is passed down through families. Both women and men can carry the mutation and pass it on to their children.

While it is well known that women who carry the mutation are at increased risk of developing breast (and ovarian) cancer, research published in the UK in July 2010 found that men who carry the gene mutation are also at increased risk of developing breast cancer.

The UK researchers looked at the incidence of male breast cancer in 321 families with BRCA2 mutations, and found that men with the gene mutation have a one in 15 chance of developing breast cancer by the time they reach 70.

"The risks are sufficient to increase awareness of breast cancer among men in BRCA2 families, and to stress the importance of early presentation with breast symptoms," the researchers said.

Men with the BRCA2 mutation are also at increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

More information about this research is available on the Cancer Research UK website, and more information about hereditary breast cancer is available on the Breast cancer in the family page.

More information

We hope that the personal stories included here, and the suggested resources, help you in your journey with breast cancer.

Articles

The articles below are PDF files and will open into a new window.

Books

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Male Breast Cancer: A revised and updated directory for the internet age. (US), Editors: James N. Parker and Philip M. Parker, available from Every Cloud website (www.everycloud.com)

It's Not About the Bike: My journey back to life, Authors: Lance Armstrong & Sally Jenkins. Whilst not specifically about breast cancer, this is still an inspirational story of a man overcoming testicular cancer.

Other websites

The following are off-site links and open in a new window.

Support groups

Currently there are no face-to-face support groups in Australia specifically for men with breast cancer. However, there are many general cancer support groups and you may find these helpful. There are also Living with Cancer Education Programs for people with cancer that provide information about cancer, its treatment and ways to deal with it.

  • If you'd like to join a face-to-face support group, call 13 11 20 for information about the nearest group to you
  • Join our online network if you think that talking to others online and sharing experiences will help

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My Journey Kit

My Journey Kit is a free, comprehensive information resource for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

You can order the kit online, or by phoning 1800 500 258.

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