Until puberty, young boys and girls have a small amount of breast tissue consisting of a few ducts located under the nipple and areola (area around the nipple). At puberty, a girl's ovaries produce female hormones, causing breast ducts to grow, lobules to form at the ends of ducts, and the amount of stroma to increase. On the other hand, male hormones produced by the testicles prevent further growth of breast tissue. Men's breast tissue contains ducts, but only a few, if any, lobules.

Like all cells of the body, a man's breast duct cells can undergo cancerous changes. Because women have many more breast cells than men do, and perhaps because their breast cells are constantly exposed to the growth-promoting effects of female hormones, breast cancer is much more common in women. 

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The Statistics

• The American Cancer Society estimates that 192,370 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2009, making it the most common cancer among women, other than skin cancer.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8. The chance of a woman dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35.
• In 2009, about 40,170 people will die from breast cancer in the United States.
• Right now there are about two and a half million women living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer.
• Although breast cancer cases are increasing, breast cancer death rates are declining, thanks in part to screenings, early detection and improved treatments. 

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What should you look for?
Men and women should be aware of their breasts and check periodically for these symptoms:

• a lump or swelling
• skin irritation, dimpling or puckering
• nipple retraction (turning inward)
• redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin
• discharge from the nipple (other than breast milk)

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What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

• Gender: Simply being a woman is the main risk for breast cancer. While men can also get the disease, it is about 100 times more common in women than in men.
• Age: The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as men and woman get older. About 2 out of 3 invasive breast cancers are found in women age 55 or older. Men with breast cancer average about 70 years old at the time of their diagnosis.
• Race: White women are slightly more likely to get breast cancer than are African American women. But African American women are more likely to die of this cancer. Many experts now believe that the main reason for this is because they have faster growing tumors. Asian, Hispanic and American Indian women have a lower risk of getting breast cancer.
• Family History: Breast cancer risk is increased if blood relatives have this disease. The relatives can be from either the mother or father's side of the family. Having a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer about doubles a woman's risk, but about 75% of women who get breast cancer have no family history. About 20% of men with breast cancer have close male or female relatives with the disease.
• Personal history of breast cancer: A woman with cancer in one breast has a greater chance of getting a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different from the first cancer coming back (recurrence).
• Genetic Risk Factors: The gene mutation (change) accounts for about 5% to 10% of breast cancers in men and women. A strong family history of breast cancer may be an indicator of gene mutation. Women with these gene changes have up to an 80% chance of getting breast cancer during their lifetimes.
• Dense Breast Tissue:  Dense breast tissue means there is more glandular tissue and less fatty tissue. Women with denser breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer. Dense breast tissue can also make it harder for doctors to spot problems on mammograms.
• Physical Inactivity & Obesity: Recent studies have shown that physical activity reduces women's breast cancer risk and that breast cancer risk is increased by obesity during adult life. Obesity is probably a risk factor for male breast cancer since fat cells convert male hormones (androgens) into female hormones (estrogens). This means that obese men have higher levels of estrogens in their body. Some obese men may notice that they don't have to shave as frequently as other men. They might also have difficulty fathering children because they may be infertile. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of many diseases and cancers in both men and women.
• Postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT): Postmenopausal hormone therapy (also known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT), has been used for many years to help relieve symptoms of menopause and to help prevent thinning of the bones (osteoporosis). There are 2 main types of PHT. For women who still have a womb (uterus), doctors generally prescribe estrogen and progesterone (known as combined PHT). Estrogen alone can increase the risk of cancer of the uterus, so progesterone is added to help prevent this. For women who no longer have a uterus (those who've had a hysterectomy), estrogen alone can be prescribed. This is commonly known as estrogen replacement therapy (ERT).
• Combined PHT: It has become clear that long-term use (several years or more) of combined PHT increases the risk of breast cancer and may increase the chances of dying of breast cancer. The breast cancer may also be found at a more advanced stage, perhaps because PHT seems to reduce the effectiveness of mammograms. Five years after stopping PHT, the breast cancer risk seems to drop back to normal.
• ERT: The use of estrogen alone does not seem to increase the risk of developing breast cancer much, if at all. But when used long-term (for more than 10 years), some studies have found that ERT increases the risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
• Alcohol Consumption: Heavy alcohol intake increases the risk of breast cancer.
• Not Breastfeeding: Some studies have shown that breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer risk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts 1½ to 2 years. This could be because breast-feeding lowers a woman's total number of menstrual periods, as does pregnancy
• Radiation Exposure: Men and women who have had radiation treatment to the chest area (as treatment for another cancer) are at increased risk of developing breast cancer.
• Abnormal Breast Biopsy: Certain types of abnormal biopsy results can be linked to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer in women.
• Menstrual periods: Women who began having periods early (before 12 years of age) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.
• Treatment with DES: In the past, some pregnant women were given the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) because it was thought to lower their chances of losing the baby. Recent studies have shown that these women (and their daughters who were exposed to DES while in the uterus) have a slightly increased risk of getting breast cancer.
• Recent Use of Birth Control Pills:  Studies have found that women who are using birth control pills have a slightly greater risk of breast cancer than women who have never used them. Women who stopped using the pill more than 10 years ago do not seem to have any increased risk. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of birth control pills.
• Klinefelter Sndrome: This is a congenital (present at birth) condition that affects about 1 of 1,000 men. Normally men have a single X chromosome along with their Y chromosome, while women have two X chromosomes. Men with this condition have more than one X chromosome (sometimes as many as 4). This causes their testicles to be smaller than usual and not produce functioning sperm cells, making them infertile. Compared with other men, they have lower levels of androgens (male hormones) and more estrogens (female hormones). For this reason, they often develop gynecomastia (benign male breast growth).
• Liver disease: The liver plays an important role in sex hormone metabolism by producing binding proteins that carry the hormones in the blood. These binding proteins affect the hormones' activity. Men with severe liver disease such as cirrhosis have relatively low levels of androgen activity and higher estrogen levels. Therefore, they may have an increased risk of developing gynecomastia and breast cancer.
• Estrogen treatment: Estrogen-related drugs are sometimes used in hormonal therapy for men with prostate cancer. This treatment may slightly increase their breast cancer risk. However, this risk is small compared with the benefits of this treatment in slowing the growth of prostate cancer. Men taking high doses of estrogens as part of a sex change procedure have a much higher breast cancer risk.

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  Early Detection Saves Lives
  Although there are many similarities between breast cancer in men and women, several important differences affect early detection.
  
  The most obvious difference between the male and female breast is size. Because men have very little breast tissue, it is easier for men and their health care professionals to feel small masses. On the other hand, because men have so little breast tissue, cancers do not need to grow very far to reach the skin covering the breast or the muscles underneath the breast. Therefore, although male breast cancers tend to be slightly smaller than female breast cancers when they are first found, they have more often spread beyond the breast. The extent of spread beyond the breast is the most important factor in the prognosis (outlook for chances of survival) of a breast cancer.
  
  Another difference is that breast cancer is common among women and rare among men. So many women are aware of this disease, while most men do not realize they have even a small risk of being affected. Some men ignore breast lumps or think they are caused by an infection or some other reason and they do not get medical treatment until the mass has grown significantly. Also, some men who think breast lumps occur only in women are embarrassed about finding one and worry that someone might question their masculinity. This attitude may also delay diagnosis and reduce a man's odds for successful treatment.
  
  Because breast cancer is so uncommon in men, there is no value in screening mammography. However, mammography along with careful examination might be useful as a screening examination for men with a strong family history or genetic risks.

  Although there are many similarities between breast cancer in men and women, several important differences affect early detection. The most obvious difference between the male and female breast is size. Because men have very little breast tissue, it is easier for men and their health care professionals to feel small masses. On the other hand, because men have so little breast tissue, cancers do not need to grow very far to reach the skin covering the breast or the muscles underneath the breast. Therefore, although male breast cancers tend to be slightly smaller than female breast cancers when they are first found, they have more often spread beyond the breast. The extent of spread beyond the breast is the most important factor in the prognosis (outlook for chances of survival) of a breast cancer.Another difference is that breast cancer is common among women and rare among men. So many women are aware of this disease, while most men do not realize they have even a small risk of being affected. Some men ignore breast lumps or think they are caused by an infection or some other reason and they do not get medical treatment until the mass has grown significantly. Also, some men who think breast lumps occur only in women are embarrassed about finding one and worry that someone might question their masculinity. This attitude may also delay diagnosis and reduce a man's odds for successful treatment. Because breast cancer is so uncommon in men, there is no value in screening mammography. However, mammography along with careful examination might be useful as a screening examination for men with a strong family history or genetic risks.

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  Guidelines for Early Breast Cancer Detection in Women

  • Mammogram: Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health.
  • Clinical Breast Exam (CBE): Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a regular exam by a health expert, preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a CBE by a health expert every year.
  • Breast Self Exam (BSE): BSE is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any changes in how their breasts look or feel to their health professional right away.

  If you notice any of these changes - a lump or swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk - it's important to consult your doctor right away.

  Order your FREE Breast Self Exam Shower Card now!

  • Women at high risk: Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the best approach for them. This might mean starting mammograms when they are younger, having extra tests, or having more frequent exams.

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  Information is provided by American Cancer Society.