In early spring 2023, Jake Messier, a 55-year-old resident of Shutesbury, MA, noticed a lump in his armpit while applying deodorant. “That’s weird,” he thought, before going about his day. The lump remained for three months, leading him to finally have it examined during a routine medical appointment.
His doctor felt the lump and ordered a mammogram. “I didn’t even know that you could get a mammogram as a guy,” Messier recalled. The mammogram revealed a mass, and a biopsy led to a diagnosis of stage 2 breast cancer, which has since progressed to stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.
A Rare but Growing Concern
Messier, with a background in nonprofit marketing, now uses his social media expertise to raise awareness about male breast cancer on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, as well as the Drops app. Now, he’s using his social media savvy to spread the word—via TikTok and Instagram, plus the Drops app—that men can get breast cancer. “There was a need because nobody else was talking about male breast cancer,” he says.
Male Breast Cancer: Rare but Rising
The American Cancer Society estimates 2,670 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026, compared to over 320,000 women this year. “Male breast cancer rates are less than 1% of all breast cancers and only make up about 0.5% to 1% of all cancers in men,” says Ayca Gucalp, M.D., a breast medical oncologist specializing in male breast cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Men have significantly less breast tissue than women, which is why male breast cancer is rare, according to Dr. Gucalp. However, while the numbers remain low, they are rising. A 2025 study in Clinical Breast Cancer found that breast cancer rates among men nearly tripled globally between 1990 and 2021.
Because men are often diagnosed later, more are dying from the disease. The mortality rate over the study period increased from 0.18 to 0.22 deaths per 100,000 men—a 22% rise. Though the numbers are small, experts express concern.
Recognizing the Signs
Men are not routinely screened for breast cancer due to its rarity. Early diagnosis improves treatment success. “You might notice a painless lump behind a nipple,” says Robyn Roth, M.D., a diagnostic radiologist specializing in breast cancer based in Camden, NJ.
Dr. Roth notes that changes to the nipple can also indicate breast cancer. These include:
Inverted nipple, meaning a nipple points inwards. Nipple discharge, which may or may not be bloody. Sores or a rash around a nipple or on your chest.
All of those [symptoms] need to be evaluated,” she says.
Risk Factors and Symptoms in Men
Most men diagnosed with breast cancer are in their 60s or 70s, according to the American Cancer Society, making age a risk factor. A family history of breast cancer also increases risk, especially if there’s an inherited genetic mutation like BRCA2, found in about 10% of men with breast cancer. Men with this mutation have a 6% lifetime risk of developing the disease.
Higher-than-normal estrogen levels are another risk factor. Conditions linked to raised estrogen in men include gynecomastia, Klinefelter syndrome, liver disease, heavy drinking, and obesity, as fat cells convert male hormones like testosterone into estrogen.
Messier, like many men, was unaware he could get breast cancer. Even some doctors overlook it due to its rarity. “For both the patient and sometimes the clinician, it is an unexpected diagnosis,” says Dr. Gucalp. “Many times, when I talk to a male patient, he’ll say he’s had a growth for a couple of months or longer and tell me it didn’t cross his mind that it could be breast cancer.”
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If breast cancer is suspected, doctors review medical and family health histories and examine the breast for lumps or other signs. Non-invasive imaging tests, including a diagnostic mammogram and breast ultrasound, follow. If a suspicious growth is found, a biopsy is performed to analyze the tissue.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Further tests determine the cancer type, stage, and hormone receptor status, guiding treatment. As with women, treatment depends on the cancer type and stage. Men typically undergo surgery, often a mastectomy, to remove the tumor and possibly nearby lymph nodes or chest muscle if the cancer has spread.
Breast reconstruction surgery may follow to restore the chest’s appearance. In recent years, a less invasive lumpectomy, which preserves some breast tissue, has become more common for men, depending on the cancer’s location and diagnosis timing. “It’s done on a case-by-case basis,” says Dr. Gucalp.
Additional treatments like radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies may be recommended based on the diagnosis. Messier’s treatment included chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation, and ongoing systemic therapy.
Though not cured, his latest evaluation showed “no evidence of disease,” a significant milestone for someone with metastatic breast cancer. Since his diagnosis, Messier has dedicated himself to raising awareness.
“Men can get breast cancer. The chances are slim but not zero,” he says. “If you find a lump, don’t wait six months. See a doctor right away.” Timely treatment is critical, as men often have a lower survival rate due to later-stage diagnoses and older age at diagnosis.
Breaking the Stigma: Jake Messier’s Mission
Messier also addresses the stigma surrounding male breast cancer. “Having breast cancer doesn’t make you less of a man,” he says. “Don’t think of it as a woman’s disease, and don’t be ashamed. I’m here to ensure every man with breast cancer knows he’s not alone.”
Most male breast cancers are estrogen-receptor positive, so hormone therapy is often used to block estrogen’s effects. Targeted therapies, though less studied in men due to low incidence rates, are being researched for their effectiveness in male breast cancer.
He stresses that men should not ignore lumps or changes in their breasts, as timely diagnosis improves outcomes. Despite a lower survival rate compared to women, largely due to later-stage diagnoses and older age, 84% of men with breast cancer live at least five years after diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society.
Treatment Options and Challenges
Following diagnosis, treatments for breast cancer in men largely depend on the specific type of breast cancer and its stage. Chemotherapy may be administered before or after surgery, or for advanced cases where cancer has spread to organs like the lungs or liver.