What can increase the risk of breast cancer in men?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer in men include:
Klinefelter's syndrome - A genetic disease where men have an extra X (female) chromosome that causes higher estrogen and lower testosterone levels.
Liver cirrhosis - Since the liver is involved with the metabolism of sex hormones, damage (via infection or alcohol use) increases estrogen levels.
Overweight - Fat cells convert male sex hormones into estrogen so being overweight and inactive can increase estrogen.
Genetic - Men who have female family members who have the breast cancer gene, particularly if they test positive for BRCA or other breast cancer susceptibility genes, are at much higher risk.
Radiation exposure - Radiation treatments received for other conditions can produce changes to breast cells if the rays are required to go through the chest.Factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer in men include: Klinefelter's syndrome - A genetic disease where men have an extra X (female) chromosome that causes higher estrogen and lower testosterone levels.Liver cirrhosis - Since... More -
Any man can develop male breast cancer. Factors that may increase risk include:
- Age: Male breast cancer is most common among men age 60–70 years.
- Alcohol: Excessive consumption of alcohol may increase risk.
- Exposure to radiation: Men who have undergone radiation treatment to the chest, such as for the treatment of cancer, are more likely to develop breast cancer.
- High estrogen levels: Having a disease connected to increased amounts of estrogen in the body, such as cirrhosis or Klinefelter syndrome (a genetic disorder).
- Family history: Having several female relatives who have had breast cancer, especially those with a mutation of the BRCA2 gene.
- Weight: Men who are obese may be at greater risk for male breast cancer. Fat cells convert the male hormone androgen into the female hormone estrogen, which may lead to an increased amount of estrogen in the body, possibly triggering breast cancer.
Any man can develop male breast cancer. Factors that may increase risk include: Age: Male breast cancer is most common among men age 60–70 years. Alcohol: Excessive consumption of alcohol may increase risk. Exposure to radiation: Men who... More -
Penn Medicine answered:Men have different kinds of breast cancer risk factors. Risk factors for men for breast cancer that cannot change include the following:
- Aging. The risk of developing breast cancer increases as men get older. Men with breast cancer are, on average, about 67 years old when they are diagnosed.
- Genetics. Male breast cancer can be hereditary, resulting directly from gene defects (called mutations) inherited from a parent, including BRCA1 and BRCA2.
- Family history. About one out of five men with breast cancer has close male or female relatives with the disease.
- Personal history. Men with cancer in one breast have an increased risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast.
- Klinefelter syndrome. This congenital condition (present at birth) affects about one in 1,000 men. Normally the cells in men's bodies have a single X chromosome along with a Y chromosome, while women's cells have two X chromosomes. Men with this condition have cells with more than one X chromosome (sometimes as many as four).
- Radiation exposure. A man whose chest area has been treated with radiation (usually for treatment of a cancer inside the chest, such as lymphoma) has an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
- Drinking. Heavy drinking of alcoholic beverages increases the risk of breast cancer in men.
- Liver disease. Men with severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis, have relatively low levels of androgens and higher estrogen levels. Therefore, they may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
- Estrogen treatment. Estrogen-related drugs are sometimes used in hormonal therapy for men with prostate cancer. This treatment may slightly increase their breast cancer risk. However, this risk is small compared with the benefits of this treatment in slowing the growth of prostate cancer.
- Conditions affecting the testicles. Some studies have suggested that certain conditions that affect the testicles, such as having an undescended testicle, having mumps as an adult, or having one or both testicles surgically removed (orchiectomy), may increase breast cancer risk.
- Certain occupations. Some reports have suggested an increased risk in men who work in hot environments such as steel mills. This could be because long-term exposure to higher temperature can affect the testicles, which in turn affects hormone levels. Men heavily exposed to gasoline fumes may also have a higher risk.
Men have different kinds of breast cancer risk factors. Risk factors for men for breast cancer that cannot change include the following: Aging. The risk of developing breast cancer increases as men get older. Men with breast cancer are, on... More
