Male breast cancer.

Breast cancer in men is rare, but it does happen.

Can men get breast cancer?

Around 400 men in the UK are diagnosed each year, most between the ages of 60 and 70. That's 400 too many.

Men are often diagnosed later because they aren't aware of the risks or the signs. But with a little knowledge, we can change that. It's time to take control of your health. Prevention and early awareness can make a big difference.

Around 400 UK men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

Men are often diagnosed between the ages of 60-70.

That's roughly 5-10 years later than the average for women.

Over 90% of male cases are invasive breast cancer of no special type.

Who's at risk?

Some things can increase a man's breast cancer risk. You're at a higher risk if you:

Are overweight or obese.
Have adiet high in processed food, high in alcohol consumption and low in fruit and vegetables.
Don't exercise.
Have genetic factors like family history or BRCA2 mutations. About 20% of male patients have a close family member who have had breast cancer.
Have a rare genetic condition called Klinefelter's syndrome, where men are born with an extra X chromosome; those with this condition account for around 7% of breast cancers in men.
Have a high level of oestrogen.
Are older in age.
Had radiation exposure due to medical treatment, especially at an early age.
Have infertility. Some studies have suggested an association with an increased risk of breast cancer in men (although the reasons for this are unclear).
Take synthetic hormones associated with male-to-female gender reassignment.
Have liver damage.
Have inflammation or damage to testes.

Don’t ignore changes. Visit your GP if you have symptoms.

Visit our check your breast and chest page for signs, symptoms and instructions on how to check.

How to check your chest

Your next steps.

Knowing the facts is powerful — but acting on them is even more important. Whether you’re looking after your own health or supporting someone else, here are some simple, practical ways to move forward. Together, we can spread the word, raise awareness, and save lives:

Share this page with people you trust; think friends, family, colleagues who may not know.
If you notice anything unusual, don’t delay, contact your GP.
Think about your own lifestyle: small changes add up.
If you've been diagnosed, you're part of a community. Men's Virtual Meet-Up (VMU) is a safe space to connect with other men who understand exactly what you're going through. Contact: doug.harper@themensvmu.org

Ready to get started?

Take our quick prevention quiz, answer a few lifestyle questions and get your personalised action plan to help you reduce your risk of breast cancer.

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Making a change, one donation at time.

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£5 fuels life-saving research every month, funding the essential lab materials our scientists rely on to accelerate their work to protect future generations.

£10 is powerful. It guarantees people get the life-changing resources they need to consistently lower their risk of breast cancer.

£50 powers ethical breakthroughs. Help fund our animal-free research into breast cancer causes, laying a path to preventing future diagnoses altogether.

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£5 puts our Prevention Quiz in front of dozens of women, giving them a personal 'Reduce Your Risk' Action Plan, putting prevention directly in their hands.

£10 fuels our mission. It allows us to deliver life-changing prevention talks to communities across the UK, empowering people to reduce their risk.

£50 will power our monthly breast check text reminders, providing the crucial nudge people need to detect breast cancer early and save a life.

£100 funds vital, animal-free research to uncover the root causes of breast cancer, so we can finally stop it before it starts.