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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Living with cancer newsletter

Subscribe to our Living with cancer newsletter to stay up to date on cancer topics.

Male breast cancer is cancer that forms in the breast tissue of men. Though breast cancer is most commonly thought of as a woman's disease, male breast cancer does occur.

Male breast cancer is most common in older men, though male breast cancer can occur at any age.

Men diagnosed with male breast cancer at an early stage have a good chance for a cure. Still, many men delay seeing their doctors if they notice unusual signs or symptoms, such as a breast lump. For this reason, many male breast cancers are diagnosed when the disease is more advanced.

References
  1. Male breast cancer treatment (PDQ) patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malebreast/patient/allpages/print. Accessed Nov. 30, 2009.
  2. Contractor KB, et al. Male breast cancer: Is the scenario changing. World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2008;6:58.
  3. Breast cancer in men. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_7x_CRC_Male_Breast_Cancer_PDF.asp. Accessed Nov. 30, 2009.
  4. Mammography. Radiology Info. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=mammo. Accessed Dec. 11, 2009.
  5. Brain K, et al. Psychological distress in men with breast cancer. American Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2006;24:95.
  6. Distress management. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/distress.pdf. Accessed Dec. 11, 2009.
  7. FDA commissioner removes breast cancer indication from Avastin label. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/ucm279485.htm. Accessed Nov. 18, 2011.
DS00661 Nov. 29, 2011

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