There is the potential for cancerous cells to grow in the bit of breast tissue that men have directly behind the nipple. This tissue is non-functional (does not produce milk), and similar to women, this tissue can produce abnormal cell growth that can grow and spread into cancer.
Male breast cancer comprises only about 1 percent of all diagnosed cases of breast cancer, and although rare, this condition can be serious and requires appropriate and timely medical care. The American Cancer Society has released data predicting statistics for 2015 for male breast cancer. In this data, the American Cancer Society predicts that approximately 2,350 new diagnoses of breast cancer will be made for male patients. Of those diagnosed, about 440 cases will result in death.
Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer
While the risk of breast cancer for men is about 100 times less than the risk for women, there is still a one in 1,000 chance that a man can develop this disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
The actual cause of male breast cancer is not yet understood, but it is believed that environmental and genetic influences may play a role. There are some risk factors that are believed to impact the likelihood that a man will be diagnosed with this rare cancer, and awareness is a key element of prevention and seeking timely medical care. Some of the risk factors to consider are described below.