SymptomsBreast cancer in men
The main symptom of breast cancer in men is a lump in the breast. The nipple or skin may also be affected.
See your GP if you have a breast lump or any other symptoms that worry you.
It's very unlikely you have cancer, but it's best to get checked out.
Breast lump
Cancerous breast lumps usually:
- occur in one breast
- develop under or around the nipple
- are painless (but in rare cases they can hurt)
- feel hard or rubbery
- do not move around within the breast
- feel bumpy rather than smooth
- get bigger over time
Most lumps and swellings are not a sign of cancer.
They're usually caused by something fairly harmless, such as gynaecomastia (enlarged male breast tissue), a lipoma(fatty lump) or a cyst (fluid-filled bump).
A GP can check your lump and refer you for tests and scans for breast cancer if needed.
Other symptoms
Other signs of breast cancer in men include:
- the nipple turning inwards (inverted nipple)
- fluid oozing from the nipple (nipple discharge), which may be streaked with blood
- a sore or rash around the nipple that does not go away
- the nipple or surrounding skin becoming hard, red or swollen
- small bumps in the armpit (swollen glands)
Further symptoms may develop if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs or liver.
These symptoms can include:
- feeling tired all the time
- aching or painful bones
- shortness of breath
- feeling sick
- itchy skin with yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)