Male breast cancer is often treated with methods similar to female breast cancer treatment. These may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of therapies.

Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for only 1% of breast cancer diagnoses in the United States. But this doesn’t mean it never happens.

If you’ve received a diagnosis of male breast cancer, prompt treatment is crucial. Here’s what to know to get the care you need.

When to see a doctor

Because males don’t undergo the same routine breast exams as females, breast cancer is often detected later. Consult a doctor if you notice any of these changes in your breast and breast skin:

Learn more about breast cancer screening.

The staging of male and female breast cancer is the same, but the diseases are distinct from one another.

Not enough studies on male breast cancer treatment have been conducted. Recommendations come largely from studies on female breast cancer. More research will improve the outlook for people with male breast cancer.

You can talk with your doctor about current clinical trials for male breast cancer treatment.

The breast cancer treatment you receive depends on:

An oncologist may suggest one or more of the standard male breast cancer treatments:

Surgery

Surgery is often a first-line treatment for early stage breast cancer. But it’s not always the sole treatment, nor is it necessary for every diagnosis.

Your surgical options may vary depending on your doctor’s recommendations and how much of the breast you wish to keep:

  • You may opt to remove the whole breast with cancer, called a modified radical mastectomy.
  • If you wish to keep the breast, breast-conserving surgery or lumpectomy removes the tumor but not the breast itself. Sometimes, the surgeon removes a small amount of unaffected tissue around the tumor, too.

You also have the option to reconstruct your breast afterward.

You may need radiation therapy after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells to prevent the cancer from coming back (recurring).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves injectable or oral drugs that either:

  • stop cancer cell division
  • destroy the cancer cells

Hair loss is a common chemo side effect, but it doesn’t always occur. Speak with your doctor about other possible side effects.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy may stop cancer cell growth by removing or blocking hormones involved in growth. They attach to cancer cell growth receptors. Not all cancer cells, however, respond to this treatment.

Different types of hormone therapy may be used depending on the type of cancer. It may affect the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Radiation therapy

Like chemo, radiation aims to destroy or stop cancer cells from dividing. Radiation involves high energy X-rays.

Radiation for male breast cancer isn’t always necessary. Your doctor may recommend radiation if:

  • you’ve undergone breast-conserving surgery or a mastectomy
  • the cancer has spread to other parts of your body

A 2020 study looked at data from 1990 to 2018 on recurrence rates of 41 cases of male breast cancer. Researchers found that postoperative (after surgery) radiation resulted in:

  • 100% complete disappearance of the primary tumor at 5 years (local control)
  • 97% complete disappearance of the primary tumor and any nearby metastases without recurrence at 5 years (locoregional control)

Speak with your doctor about possible side effects of radiation.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy affects specific cancer cells, unlike chemo and radiation, which affect healthy cells, too. You may receive targeted therapy through an injection or orally.

Depending on the type of targeted therapy, it may work by:

  • attaching to a target on cancer cells to block their growth signal
  • blocking a specific protein from causing cancer cell growth
  • preventing the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow

Screening can help improve your outlook if you suspect you have breast cancer.

According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the 5-year survival rates for male breast cancer are:

StageSurvival rate
stage 175% to 100%
stage 250% to 80%
stage 330% to 60%
stage 420% to 30%

Remember, if you notice signs and symptoms that could point to breast cancer, consult a doctor right away. Prompt treatment may improve your outcome.

Male breast cancer resources

  • HIS Breast Cancer Awareness
  • Breast Cancer Now
  • Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance
  • Male Breast Cancer Happens

While male breast cancer is rare, it doesn’t mean it never happens. People with early stage breast cancer have a positive outlook when it’s promptly and properly treated.

Treatment for male breast cancer is often similar to treatment for female breast cancer. Treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy. Sometimes, treatment may include a combination of therapies.

Though current research on male breast cancer treatments is lacking, you may be able to participate in clinical trials. Speak with your doctor about how to get involved.