Can men get breast cancer?

Posted by austin202001 @austin202001, Jun 5, 2021

I just got a lump under my armpit and right next to my chest it’s about an inch long and quarter inch wide what could it be

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

Hi @austin202001, In addition to the Breast Cancer group I also linked your post to the men's health group to make it easier to connect with others who might have similar symptoms.

And yes, Breast cancer in men is usually detected as a hard lump underneath the nipple and areola. Even though males do not develop milk-producing breasts, a man’s breast cells and tissue can still develop cancer. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/male-breast-cancer

Here is an article on Connect about male mammograms for lumps.
– A Male Mammogram Brings Relief, Life and Marketing Lessons https://connect.mayoclinic.org/2016/10/13/a-male-mammogram-brings-relief-life-and-marketing-lessons/

Austin, have you talked to a physician yet?

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@amandaa

Hi @austin202001, In addition to the Breast Cancer group I also linked your post to the men's health group to make it easier to connect with others who might have similar symptoms.

And yes, Breast cancer in men is usually detected as a hard lump underneath the nipple and areola. Even though males do not develop milk-producing breasts, a man’s breast cells and tissue can still develop cancer. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/male-breast-cancer

Here is an article on Connect about male mammograms for lumps.
– A Male Mammogram Brings Relief, Life and Marketing Lessons https://connect.mayoclinic.org/2016/10/13/a-male-mammogram-brings-relief-life-and-marketing-lessons/

Austin, have you talked to a physician yet?

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Thank you

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As a high school teacher, I lost one of my former male students to breast cancer. He was a married adult at the time of his death.

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@basslakebabe19

As a high school teacher, I lost one of my former male students to breast cancer. He was a married adult at the time of his death.

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I’m sorry

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Austin, please see a doctor and get this evaluated, there are a few serious conditions that present this way, including breast cancer. Please do keep us posted.

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I have the same thing & got prescribed an antibiotic that gave me bad chills. Now waiting for CT scan and surgeon to call back

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@roberthornedtoad

I have the same thing & got prescribed an antibiotic that gave me bad chills. Now waiting for CT scan and surgeon to call back

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Hi Robert, if you were given an antibiotic, it sounds like your doctor suspects an infection. Did they say what they are investigating?

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I just joined Mayo Clinic Connect and this post on male breast cancer popped up. My husband is an 11 year breast cancer survivor. He found the lump himself one day while showering and luckily he knew that breast cancer was a possibility in men, which unfortunately many men don’t know. We were in disbelief. Quick action on his part to go to the doctor resulted in early diagnosis of a stage 1 cancer with no lymph node involvement. He had a simple mastectomy followed by tamoxifen. Although breast cancer is rare in men, when it happens to you, it’s not rare. I wish that more men were encouraged through their doctors, health systems, and men’s health groups to do self breast exam exam every time they shower. It can save your life. My husband tells every man he knows about is cancer diagnosis to help educate men.

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@skygazer

I just joined Mayo Clinic Connect and this post on male breast cancer popped up. My husband is an 11 year breast cancer survivor. He found the lump himself one day while showering and luckily he knew that breast cancer was a possibility in men, which unfortunately many men don’t know. We were in disbelief. Quick action on his part to go to the doctor resulted in early diagnosis of a stage 1 cancer with no lymph node involvement. He had a simple mastectomy followed by tamoxifen. Although breast cancer is rare in men, when it happens to you, it’s not rare. I wish that more men were encouraged through their doctors, health systems, and men’s health groups to do self breast exam exam every time they shower. It can save your life. My husband tells every man he knows about is cancer diagnosis to help educate men.

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Hello @skygazer and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for joining this discussion to share your husband's experience with breast cancer. While many men likely don't think that it can happen to them, it is great to hear your husband is advocating to get the word out to others to build that awareness.

What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?

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@amandajro

Hello @skygazer and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for joining this discussion to share your husband's experience with breast cancer. While many men likely don't think that it can happen to them, it is great to hear your husband is advocating to get the word out to others to build that awareness.

What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?

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Hello, I have a long-term fused hip due to congenital hip displasia and was evaluated at the Mayo Clinic some years ago for the possibility of a hip replacement and to get more info about the associated complexity and outcomes. I am familiar with the Mayo’s research on conversion of hip arthrodesis to hip replacement and orthopedic expertise. I joined Mayo Clinic Connect to see if there were people on here discussing the same issue, but I didn’t see a group for that as I think my case is kind of rare. There don’t seem to be many patients with the issue of hip fusion since nowadays I don’t think that is done very often any more. I saw the male breast cancer post by chance, and I couldn’t help but respond.

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