This cancer type is rare, only occurring in 1% of males. It is often diagnosed at older ages and in later stages, meaning it can be more serious.

Only 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is found in males.

That’s just one statistic that comes along with male breast cancer, a rare but important health issue.

There’s a lot to know about male breast cancer, but in this article, we focus on some of the key stats to know when it comes to this type of cancer. You can discuss these figures with your healthcare team when it comes to understanding male breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society reports that 2,800 new cases of male breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2025. By comparison, 316,950 new cases of female breast cancer will be diagnosed.

For male breast cancer, that’s only about 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses.

About 1 in 726 men will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

The chance of male breast cancer increases with age.

Male breast cancer is most often diagnosed in those at least 50 years old. The American Cancer Society states the average age of diagnosis is around 72 years. Other research points to male breast cancer being rare in people under 40 years.

Age and timing of diagnosis matter when it comes to treating male breast cancer, too.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one-half of people with male breast cancer received a diagnosis after it had already spread. That means their 5-year survival rate may be lower than those who had their breast cancer diagnosed when treatment could be more focused and localized.

That’s why early recognition of the signs and symptoms of male breast cancer is so important.

Having a family medical history that includes breast cancer or any type of cancer raises your risk of cancer too.

The risk of male breast cancer increases if there are one or more female relatives who have had breast cancer.

There’s also a higher risk of male breast cancer when mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes are present. This can increase the risk of not only male breast cancer but also prostate and pancreatic cancers.

Male breast cancer treatment has evolved through the years. It is better today than it once was.

Treatment options and outcomes depend on the stage of cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rates for male breast cancer are:

  • Localized: 95%
  • Regional: 84%
  • Distant: 20%

The overall 5-year relative survival rate for male breast cancer is 83%, according to the ACS when looking at all cases in the database for all breast cancer stages in males.

Relative survival rates estimate how long people with a diagnosis may live compared with people without that diagnosis.

Male breast cancer is a rarer type of cancer. Because of this, diagnosis may be delayed in certain cases.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of male breast cancer and reaching out to a doctor about any concerns can improve outcomes.

Your healthcare team is the best to consult on male breast cancer. They can help you understand your personal risk factors, symptoms, and what you may expect with various types of treatment.