This Sunday, we celebrate Father’s Day and thank every dad and father figure for their love and support. June also happens to be Men’s Health Month – an opportunity to remind ourselves that although breast cancer is much more prominent in women, it can affect men, too.
The ratio of male-to-female breast cancer diagnoses is 1 man to every 120 women, although these rates are on the rise, possibly due to the hormonal effects of obesity. As with Black women, Black men have lower survival rates. Men also carry a higher mortality than women do, primarily because awareness among men is less and they are less likely to assume a lump is breast cancer.
Even though the disease is rare, men with a history of breast cancer may be at risk to develop breast cancer again and need continued monitoring with a physical exam. Some people also think you can only get breast cancer from your mother’s side of the family, but that is a harmful myth as breast cancer can come just as easily from your father’s side.
Survival rates for men and women are the same when the stage and biology of the breast cancer is similar. As with women, the earlier a breast cancer is detected and treated in a man, the better the chances of taking care of the breast cancer and improving long-term survival.
Because the disease is so rare, regular breast imaging appointments are not necessary for men. Physical examinations at the doctor should suffice, although a 2022 Cleveland Clinic survey found that men are alarmingly less likely to visit the doctor than women. Once congratulations and gifts have been given on Sunday, make sure to remind the men in your life to prioritize self-care and maintain their health!