By Trish Svoboda/Images courtesy Canva
As Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week begins, part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, health experts are encouraging men to be educated about the risks, warning signs, and treatment options for a disease often thought to affect only women.
Dr. Marisa Weiss, chief medical officer and founder of Breastcancer.org, said male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases but is frequently diagnosed late because many men don’t realize they can develop it. Early detection, she noted, significantly improves treatment outcomes.
“There’s a myth that breast cancer only affects women, when in fact 2,800 American men are expected to be diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer in the year 2025,” said Dr. Weiss. “And, although it’s uncommon, it does happen, and we need to learn more about it and men need to be aware that this can happen to them.”
Dr. Weiss said that routine mammograms aren’t necessarily recommended for men, but those with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer or carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations are encouraged to seek genetic testing and regular evaluations.
She said increasing public education, expanding clinical trials to include men, and promoting support networks can help reduce stigma and improve survival rates.
“It’s important to promote genetic testing and counseling for families at elevated risk and to strengthen support networks such as male breast cancer happens and the male breast cancer global alliance to reduce isolation and stigma.”
Dr. Weiss urged men to pay attention to any changes and seek medical advice promptly, stressing that “early detection saves lives.”
“No one has to face a male breast cancer diagnosis alone. Raising awareness helps future generations of men get diagnosed early and treated more effectively. And it helps other members of your family know how to take care of themselves over time so that they stay as safe as possible for as long as possible.”
Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week takes place annually from October 17-23.
More information and resources are available at Breastcancer.org.
