Causes and risk factors of breast cancer in men

However, because breast cancer in men is rare, most men who have these risk factors will never develop breast cancer.

Possible risk factors of breast cancer in men include: 

Getting older Back to top

The risk of breast cancer in men increases with age. It’s most common in men over 60 years of age. Breast cancer in young men is extremely rare. 

Family history of breast cancer Back to top

About 1 in 5 men with breast cancer (20%) have a close relative who has also had breast cancer|. Sometimes breast cancer is linked to an inherited breast cancer gene. This is more likely if there is a strong history of breast cancer in a family|. There may be a breast cancer gene in a family if:

• Several close relatives have breast or ovarian cancer - close relatives (sometimes called first-degree) are your parents, children, brothers and sisters
• a close relative has breast or ovarian cancer at a young age (under 40)
• a close relative is diagnosed with breast cancer in both breasts.

The genes most commonly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in families are BRCA1 and BRCA2|. Men in families with the BRCA2 gene are more likely to develop breast cancer than men in BRCA1 families. It’s thought that the BRCA2 gene may cause up to 1 in 10 of breast cancers in men (10%).

If you are concerned that there may be a history of breast cancer in your family, you can ask your GP or breast specialist to refer you to a family cancer clinic.

Online risk assessment

We have an online interactive tool called OPERA| (Online Personal Education and Risk Assessment), which gives personalised information about inherited breast cancer risk. OPERA is based on guidance on familial breast and ovarian cancer from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE|). NICE is an independent body that currently gives guidance on NHS services in England and Wales.   

 

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Klinefelter syndrome Back to top

Klinefelter syndrome is a condition where men are born with one or more extra X chromosomes. Normally, men have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY), while women have two X chromosomes (XX). Men with Klinefelter syndrome have one Y chromosome and two or more X chromosomes (XXY or XXXY). This can cause lower levels of testosterone.

Men with Klinefelter syndrome have a higher risk of breast cancer than average. For most men the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000, but for men with Klinefelter syndrome it’s closer to 1 in 25.

Symptoms of Klinefelter syndrome may include being taller than average, having increased breast tissue (gynaecomastia), smaller testicles and infertility.

Being overweight (obese) Back to top

Men who are overweight have a higher than average risk of getting breast cancer.

Alcohol Back to top

There is some evidence that heavy drinking over a sustained period of time increases the risk of a man developing breast cancer.

Some medical conditions Back to top

Long-term damage to the liver such as liver cirrhosis can increase the risk of breast cancer in men. Conditions that can damage the testicles - such as having undescended testicles or having mumps as an adult - also increase the risk of breast cancer.

Radiation Back to top

Being exposed to high levels of radiation may increase a man’s risk of breast cancer. Men who’ve had repeated doses of radiotherapy to their chest area at a young age may also be at increased risk.

Some occupations Back to top

Men who work in hot environments such as blast furnaces, steel works and rolling mills may have a slightly increased risk. This is probably related to heat damage to the testicles. Some studies have also linked long-term exposure to petrol and exhaust fumes with breast cancer in men.