Types of breast cancer in men

Knowing the type of cancer helps the doctors decide on the most appropriate treatment|.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) Back to top

The abnormal cells are contained in the lining of the ducts and have not begun to spread into the breast tissue. DCIS is sometimes described as pre-cancerous or pre-invasive breast cancer.

If cancer cells have spread beyond the lining of the ducts into the surrounding breast tissue, this is called invasive breast cancer. Types of invasive breast cancer include:

Breast cancer of no special type Back to top

This is also known as invasive ductal breast cancer. The cells that line the breast duct have become cancerous and have spread into the surrounding breast tissue. This is the most common type of breast cancer and accounts for more than 9 out of every 10 breast cancers in men (over 90%).

Inflammatory breast cancer Back to top

This is an uncommon type of breast cancer. There may not be a lump, but the breast looks red and swollen and may feel tender. This is caused by cancer cells blocking tiny lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. Less than 1 in every 100 of all breast cancers in men (1%) are inflammatory breast cancer.

Paget's disease of the breast Back to top

This is a condition that begins in the breast ducts and causes redness and itching in the nipple and the darker area around it (areola). Men who have Paget’s disease often have an underlying breast cancer. The underlying cancer may be DCIS or an invasive breast cancer.

Lobular breast cancer Back to top

This kind of cancer starts in the lobules where milk is made. Men rarely get lobular breast cancer because there are few, if any, lobules in men’s breasts.

Other rarer types of breast cancer Back to top

Other rare types of breast cancer include:

• medullary breast cancer
• mucinous breast cancer
• tubular breast cancer.

Your doctor or nurse, or our cancer support specialists can give you more information about these rarer types of breast cancer.