prevention

Breast Cancer in Men: It’s Rare — But It’s Real

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Breast cancer is usually talked about as a disease affecting women, but men have breast tissue, too, and they can develop breast cancer. Knowing the basics helps you spot changes early and act fast.

What is Breast Cancer in Men?

Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in breast tissue. Men have a small amount of breast tissue (mostly behind the nipple), and the same main types seen in women can occur in men:

  • Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)
  • Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)
  • Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

These types behave in men much like they do in women.

How Common is It?

Male breast cancer is uncommon. The CDC estimates that about 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. is found in a man.

For 2025, the American Cancer Society projects about 2,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer in men and about 510 deaths in men. The average lifetime risk for a U.S. man is about 1 in 726.

ACS also notes that breast cancer is ~100× less common among white men than white women and ~70× less common among Black men than Black women, and that Black men with breast cancer tend to have a worse outlook—important disparities that underscore the need for awareness and timely care.

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Signs and Symptoms to Watch for

Contact a healthcare provider if you notice any of the following on one side or both:

  • A lump or swelling in the breast or underarm
  • Nipple discharge
  • Redness, scaling, or flaky skin on the breast or nipple
  • Irritation, dimpling, or puckering of breast skin
  • Nipple turning inward (retraction) or nipple pain

Sometimes cancer spreads to lymph nodes near the collarbone or under the arm and causes a lump before a breast lump is felt. These symptoms can also be caused by conditions that aren’t cancer, but they should always be checked.

Who is at Higher Risk?

Your risk may be higher if you:

  • Have a strong family history of breast cancer or carry BRCA1/BRCA2 gene changes (especially BRCA2)
  • Have had chest radiation
  • Have conditions that raise estrogen levels (e.g., Klinefelter syndrome, certain liver diseases)
  • Have obesity or certain testicular conditions
     Risk increases with age. Talk to your clinician about whether genetic counseling/testing is right for you.

How is it Treated?

Treatment depends on the tumor’s size and whether it has spread. Options can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy—similar to treatments used for women. Your care team will tailor a plan to you.

Bottom Line

Breast cancer in men is rare, but real. If you notice a new lump, nipple changes, skin dimpling, or discharge, don’t wait—see your healthcare provider right away. Early evaluation leads to better outcomes.

 

Read More From The Uncas Health District

Bring Your Brave: Knowing Your Risk, Owning Your Health

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Most breast cancers occur in older adults, but diagnoses among women younger than 45 have been slowly rising. The good news: deaths have fallen overall thanks to better awareness and early detection. Bring Your Brave puts practical, culturally relevant tools and stories in one place so younger women can spot risks and speak up sooner.

Meet Marleah

A Personal Story

Meet Marleah. At 25, she learned she carried a BRCA2 gene mutation. That knowledge meant hard choices—but it also sparked a career in advocacy and helped her take charge of her care. Her story is one of many from the CDC’s Bring Your Brave campaign, which shares real experiences to help women under 45 understand breast cancer risk and act early.

Map Your Family History

Knowing your family health history is one of the most powerful ways to understand your personal risk. CDC’s My Family Health Portrait: Cancer (free on iOS and Android) helps you gather relatives’ cancer histories and get a personalized assessment for breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer risks you can share with your clinician.

Who May Have a Higher Risk at a Young Age?

You may face a higher risk before 45 if any of the following apply to you:

  • A close relative was diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, especially at 45 or younger.
  • You have a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene change.
  • You had radiation therapy to the chest during childhood or early adulthood.
  • You’ve had breast cancer or certain breast conditions such as LCIS, DCIS, or atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia.

If these sound familiar, talk with your doctor. They may recommend a genetic counselor, earlier or more frequent screening, or steps to lower risk.

Screening: What to Know

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every two years from ages 40 to 74 for people at average risk. If you’re at higher risk, your clinician may suggest starting earlier, screening more often, or using additional tests (such as MRI). The right plan depends on your personal and family history—bring your questions.

Quick note on self-checks: Being familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel is valuable—if you notice changes (a new lump, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, or persistent pain), call your provider. Formal monthly self-breast exams don’t replace recommended screening and are not a stand-alone screening test.

What You Can Do Today

  • Download the CDC app My Family Health Portrait: Cancer and start a confidential family history. Share it at your next appointment. (Google Play | App Store)
  • Explore Bring Your Brave stories like Marleah’s for guidance on talking with family, navigating genetics, and advocating for yourself.
  • Ask your clinician whether your history or heritage suggests earlier or additional screening. If so, request a referral to genetic counseling.
  • Know your normal. If something feels off, don’t wait—get it checked. (The National Breast Cancer Foundation offers a clear, step-by-step guide on self-awareness techniques.)

Bottom line: Bring Your Brave is about informed action. Learn your risk, start the conversation, and make a plan that fits you—because early knowledge can be life-changing.

 

Read More From The Uncas Health District

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month — What You Need to Know

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woman with cervical cancer ribbon

January marks National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society estimated there will have been about 13,960 new cases of invasive cancer diagnosed, and about 4,310 women will have died from cervical cancer in 2023. The 2020 CDC data for Connecticut shows there were 96 cases reported, equaling a cervical cancer rate of 4.8 per 100,000 women.

Anyone with a cervix is at risk for cervical cancer, increasing in people over the age of 30. Certain types of HPV are the main cause of cervical cancer. Screening tests and the HPV vaccine can help reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Click here to see more information about cervical cancer risk.

What is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer starts in the cells lining the cervix — the lower part of the uterus (womb).

The cervix connects the body of the uterus (the upper part where a fetus grows) to the vagina (birth canal). Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control.

The cervix is made of two parts and is covered with two different types of cells.

  • The endocervix is the opening of the cervix that leads into the uterus. It is covered with glandular cells.
  • The exocervix (or ectocervix) is the outer part of the cervix that can be seen by the doctor during a speculum exam. It is covered in squamous cells.

The place where these two cell types meet in the cervix is called the transformation zone. The exact location of the transformation zone changes as you get older and if you give birth. Most cervical cancers begin in the cells in the transformation zone.

Cervical Cancer Symptoms

Cervical cancer may not present with signs or symptoms in its early stages. Advanced cervical can cause bleeding or discharge from the vagina that is not normal for you. The best way to reduce risk is to see your doctor regularly, comply with screening recommendations, and report anything to your doctor that is not normal for you. See the attached documents for more detailed information.

Types of Treatment

If you are diagnosed with cervical cancer, you will be referred to a gynecologic oncologist to develop a treatment plan. Cervical cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of cervical cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

  • Surgery: Doctors remove cancer tissue in an operation.
  • Chemotherapy: Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both.
  • Radiation: Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer.

 Insurance and Income: For those who are concerned they cannot afford care

Screening and treatment are covered under most insurance policies. But what if you, or someone you know, is uninsured or underinsured and cannot afford care? In Connecticut, the DPH has the Connecticut Early Detection & Prevention Program (CEDPP).

The CEDPP is an integrated program that brings breast and cervical cancer screening together with the WISEWOMAN, Colorectal Cancer, and Comprehensive Cancer programs, which helps promote healthy lifestyles for Connecticut Residents in order to decrease breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, heart disease, hypertension, and other avoidable diseases. If you, or someone you know, needs to receive screening but cannot afford it, please go to the Early Detection and Prevention Program website to determine eligibility.

Cervical Cancer Facts