By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
When most people hear the word “breast cancer,” they picture a woman. But behind the pink ribbons and awareness campaigns lies a rarely discussed reality, men get breast cancer too.
Though it accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases worldwide, male breast cancer remains one of the most underdiagnosed and stigmatized diseases, often detected too late for effective treatment. For many men, the silence around the condition can be just as deadly as the cancer itself.
This is the untold truth about male breast cancer, a disease hidden in plain sight.
The Overlooked Cancer
Globally, about 1 in every 830 men will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Cancer Society (ACS, 2024).
In Ghana, data from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s Oncology Unit shows that between 3–5% of all breast cancer cases recorded annually occur in men, a number experts believe is higher due to underreporting and misdiagnosis.
Prof. Patrick Kafui Akakpo, an Anatomic pathologist (a medical doctor who specialises in examining organs, tissues, and cells to diagnose disease ), disclosed that male breast cancer, though rare, accounts for between one and three per cent of total breast cancer cases recorded in Ghana.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show as part of the station’s Cancer Awareness Month series, Prof. Akakpo said while breast cancer is predominantly a female disease, men are not completely exempt.
“Yes, we do have breasts, and so we can be predisposed to getting breast cancer. It’s just that the proportion is low. Usually, if you look at what has been put out there in literature, the highest proportion that has been reported in Ghana is about 3%, and the lowest is around 1%,” he explained.
The pathologist revealed that he has personally encountered several male breast cancer cases in his medical practice.
“In my practice, I have probably seen maybe about half a hundred men who have had male breast cancers,” he noted.
The Biology Behind It
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), men have small amounts of breast tissue primarily ducts beneath the nipple and areola. These cells can undergo malignant change, resulting in ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer in men.
Other forms include Paget’s disease of the nipple, invasive lobular carcinoma, and inflammatory breast cancer. About 8 out of 10 male breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs).
Key risk factors include:
Age: Most cases occur after 60.
Genetics: BRCA2 mutations raise risk significantly; 20% of cases have a genetic link (The Lancet Oncology, 2023).
Hormonal imbalance: High estrogen levels due to liver disease, obesity, or certain drugs.
Family history: Having a close relative with breast cancer.
Radiation exposure: Prior chest radiation increases risk.
The ACS further explains that men can also develop benign breast conditions, such as gynecomastia, which is a noncancerous enlargement of breast tissue caused by hormonal imbalance, certain drugs, or obesity. Although common, it must be examined since both gynecomastia and cancer may appear as lumps under the nipple.
Prof. Akakpo further explained that although men have less developed breast structures compared to women, they still possess small amounts of estrogen, the hormone responsible for breast tissue growth. This, he said, can increase the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly among older or obese men.
“The structures in the breast that are supposed to produce milk in men are not as developed as those of females because we don’t have as much of the hormone estrogen. But it does not mean that we don’t have little bits of it. We still do,” he added.
The Stigma That Silences
Perhaps the greatest barrier to early detection is stigma.
Culturally, many men dismiss breast-related symptoms, assuming breast cancer is “a woman’s disease.” When symptoms appear a painless lump, nipple inversion, discharge, or skin dimpling. Men often ignore them or self-upmedicate until the disease has advanced.
The Diagnostic Challenge
Because most breast cancer screening campaigns focus on women, men rarely undergo mammograms or routine checks.
Data from the National Radiotherapy, Oncology, and Nuclear Medicine Centre (Korle-Bu) shows that over 70% of male cases are detected at stage III or IV, when treatment options are limited and survival rates plummet.
Globally, the five-year survival rate for early-stage male breast cancer is about 84%, but falls to 20–25% when diagnosed late (National Cancer Institute, 2024).
The Emotional and Psychological Toll
Beyond physical suffering, men with breast cancer face psychological distress ,shame, fear, and isolation.
In patriarchal societies, the diagnosis threatens one’s sense of masculinity. Some patients hide their condition or refuse treatment.
A 2022 study in the journal Psycho-Oncology found that male breast cancer patients are twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety as women with the same disease.
“I didn’t tell anyone for months,” shared Kwame (56), a survivor treated at Korle-Bu. “When I said I had breast cancer, people laughed , they thought it was a joke. It’s a lonely disease for men.”
Voices from the Clinics
During a breast cancer talk at COCOBOD Quality Control Department,
Dr. Wedam Adigan educated staff on misconceptions surrounding transmission:
“Sucking the breast with cancer doesn’t transmit it to the partner. It’s not a communicable disease,” he said, adding that husbands should not only touch their wives’ breasts for pleasure but also for health awareness. “many lumps are found by husbands.”
Similarly, Mr. Samuel Agyekum, Occupational Health Manager at Rabito Clinic, speaking during a screening and awareness session organised for New Times Corporation staff in Accra in collaboration with Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult), noted:
“Many men show little interest in breast cancer awareness because they believe the disease affects only women or rely on the low percentage of male cases as an excuse for inaction.” He urged both men and women to participate actively in breast health education and screening.
Hope in Awareness and Research
Encouragingly, awareness is growing. Global initiatives such as “Real Men Wear Pink” and the Male Breast Cancer Coalition are breaking stereotypes, while hospitals across Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa now include men in October screening drives.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has also launched gender-inclusive community health campaigns to teach both men and women how to perform self-breast exams and recognise warning signs.
Scientific advances including genetic testing, targeted hormone therapy, and precision oncology are improving survival outcomes. Drugs like Tamoxifen, long used for women, have proven equally effective for male patients.
Prevention and Early Detection: What Men Should Know
Experts recommend that men especially those over 40 or with a family history — should:
Perform monthly self-examinations for lumps, nipple changes, or discharge.
Seek genetic counseling if BRCA mutations run in the family.
Maintain a healthy weight and limit alcohol intake.
Report any breast change immediately to a healthcare provider.
The Way Forward Breaking the Silence
Male breast cancer deserves a voice. Breaking the taboo begins with open dialogue in homes, churches, and the media.
Ghana’s cancer burden , expected by the WHO to rise by 85% by 2040 calls for gender-inclusive campaigns. Every October, pink ribbons dominate airwaves, but true awareness means painting the campaign blue and pink for every man who might otherwise remain unseen.
The Untold Truth
Male breast cancer is real.
It’s not rare ,it’s ignored.
It thrives in silence, spreads through stigma, and kills through delay. But with awareness, early detection, and support, survival is not only possible ,it’s probable.
The untold truth is that cancer does not care about gender.
And neither should we.
