large_hero

Men with breast cancer

1 Min. Read

featured_paragraph

Breast cancer doesn’t only affect women; in rare cases men can get it, too. If you are a man diagnosed with breast cancer, you likely have a lot of questions and concerns about your diagnosis, treatment options, and planning for your future.

general_content

Here, you will find tailored information and resources to help you understand your diagnosis, treatment options, and family cancer history and genetics, and learn more about reconstruction and how treatment could impact fertility.

general_content

Quick Facts

  • In 2026, an estimated 2,670 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the U.S. (ACS, 2026)
  • An estimated 530 U.S. men are expected to die from breast cancer in 2026. (ACS, 2026)
  • In the U.S., an estimated one in 755 men will develop breast cancer. (ACS, 2026)
  • Men with a family history of breast cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease. (ACS, 2026)
  • Only about 35% of clinical trials in breast cancer are open to men. (The Breast, 2024)
  • Black men have higher rates of breast cancer incidence and mortality compared with men in other racial and ethnic groups. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
  • Carrying an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation raises the likelihood of developing breast cancer. (CDC, 2024)
  • Men with a BRCA1 mutation have a breast cancer risk of about 1% to 5% and men with a BRCA2 mutation have a risk of 5% to 10%. (Basser Center for BRCA, 2024)
our_stories

Popular stories

Bob Riter stands happily before cherry blossoms in bloom.

Bob's story

From breast to prostate cancer, Bob Riter’s path took a twist with a surprising CHEK2 mutation, revealing why genetic testing matters more than ever.

Bob's story
Bruce Rubin paces the basketball court, waiting for his chance to catch a pass.

Bruce's story

Discover how Bruce Rubin, an 81-year-old basketball enthusiast and male breast cancer survivor, faced his diagnosis with grit, strategy, and an unshakable love for the game.

Bruce's story
Rod Ritchie headshot

Rod's story

Despite his family history and a lump in his left breast, Rod had to wait three months before his healthcare provider ordered a scan. Rod’s experiences with stage IIIB inflammatory breast cancer reveal many of the challenges that men face in breast cancer.

Rod's story
related_resources_article_carousel

Related resources

Breast cancer statistics

01/27/26 | BY: Rita Nanda

Discover statistics to answer some of the most common questions and to present a general picture of what breast cancer in the U.S. looks like today.

Read More
 | 16 Min. Read

Breast cancer in men: The basics

10/24/16 | BY: Kathryn Ruddy

Although breast cancer is much less common in men than in women, there are still about 2,600 men diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States each year.

Read More
 | 4 Min. Read

Genetics and male breast cancer

10/24/16 | BY: William F. Anderson, Sharon H. Giordano, Kathryn Ruddy

About 10% of men diagnosed with breast cancer have a breast cancer-related genetic mutation, most commonly in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

Read More
 | 3 Min. Read

Treatment options for men

10/24/16 | BY: Kathryn Ruddy

There is little research that is specifically about treating male breast cancer. Still, you can find comfort in knowing that male breast cancer seems to be well-managed by the therapies used for women with breast cancer.

Read More
 | 3 Min. Read

Breast reconstruction for men

10/24/16 | BY: Kathryn Ruddy

Most men with breast cancer have surgery of some type. Reconstruction, or reconstructive surgery, is surgery to make the area where a breast was removed look more like it did before.

Read More
 | 4 Min. Read

Men’s fertility after male breast cancer

10/24/16 | BY: William F. Anderson, Sharon H. Giordano, Kathryn Ruddy

A breast cancer diagnosis doesn’t mean the end of a healthy sex life. If you are interested in having children, you may want to consider visiting a sperm bank before starting chemotherapy. 

Read More
 | 2 Min. Read
stay_connected

Stay connected

Sign up to receive emotional support, medical insight, personal stories, and more, delivered to your inbox weekly.

About this page
About LBBC

Reviewed and updated: February 23, 2026

Reviewed by: LBBC Staff

Tagged:

Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to create a world that understands there is more than one way to have breast cancer. To fulfill its mission of providing trusted information and a community of support to those impacted by the disease, Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers on-demand emotional, practical, and evidence-based content. For over 30 years, the organization has remained committed to creating a culture of acceptance — where sharing the diversity of the lived experience of breast cancer fosters self-advocacy and hope. For more information, learn more about our programs and services.