Men’s Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Men’s breast cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the breast in men. Most male breast cancer begins in cells lining the breast ducts. It’s very rare and usually affects older men. Following is a list of men’s breast cancer risk factors:
- Age increases the risk of breast cancer.
- Having the BRCA2 or BRCA1 gene mutation, or having a close relative with the mutation, raises a man’s lifetime risk from about 1 percent to about 7 percent.
- Having a family history of breast cancer—especially if it was diagnosed at age 40 or younger.
- Obesity.
- Radiation exposure.
- Increased estrogen levels, from heavy alcohol use, cirrhosis or Klinefelter syndrome.
Practice early detection. Learn to do a breast self-check every month and ask your health professional to include a breast exam in your annual doc-check.
The Health Site
Resources: Mayo Clinic and Cancer.net
