Man Diagnosed With Male Breast Cancer After Finding a Lump Shares The Awkward Reality of Mammograms for Men

Speaking to WJHG News Channel 7, Schoots, who recently rang the bell in his cancer journey, recounted being determined to “meet this cancer head on and try to kick its butt” when he was diagnosed earlier this year—making him part of the 2,800 men diagnosed with invasive breast cancer annually, as per the American Cancer Society.

Schoots then described the difficulties he encountered before receiving his official diagnosis, including a situation where hospital staff had to find a razor to shave his chest prior to the biopsy, and the tough time he had getting screened.

He explained, “A tall guy like me with small boobs to get into the machine to have you mammogram taken … that is quite acrobatic.”

Schoots continued, “You can see there’s a big scar, but it isn’t as obvious as it is for women. They lose part of their identity.

“But for men, that’s slightly different because I’m just sitting here, and you probably can’t see a difference.”

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He noted that many men find it hard to accept that they can get breast cancer, as it’s often perceived to be a “women’s disease.”

“When they discover they have a lump in their breast, they think, ‘bruising,’ or whatever. It’s the same thing I did the first couple of weeks,” Schoots said. “They wait to go to the doctor until the tumors are really big and have metastasized in the body. It will make it far more difficult to get cured in the end.”

Schoots, who has developed friendships and maintained a strong support system throughout his cancer journey, isn’t shy to admit his male breast cancer journey was an “emotional” one and proudly rang the bell to signify reaching remission, according to WJHG.

His battle with cancer motivated him to retire sooner than he had intended, focus on spending quality time with family and friends, and make travel a greater priority in his life.

Michael Singer says men tend to ignore breast cancer symptoms because they’re embarrassed to ask a doctor about a ‘woman’s disease.’

Understanding Male Breast Cancer

Like women, men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast start growing out of control, typically forming a tumor that’s felt as a lump.

RELATED: It’s All About Awareness and Education — Why I Advocate for Male Breast Cancer

A family history of breast cancer can increase a man’s likelihood of developing the disease. In most cases, male breast cancer presents as a lump in the chest region. Additionally, factors such as the individual’s race may influence the overall outlook or prognosis.

Five types of standard treatment are used to treat breast cancer in men:

• Surgery for breast cancer in men mirrors the procedure in women. A modified radical mastectomy removes the whole breast with cancer. The result may involve removing the nipple, according to the National Cancer Institute.
• Chemotherapy involves cancer-killing drugs to prevent the cancer cells from growing. Chemo drugs are usually taken orally or intravenously.
• Hormone therapy removes hormones or blocks their ability to help cancer cells grow.
• In radiation therapy, high-energy beams such as X-rays are aimed at cancer cells to kill them.
• Targeted therapy treatment uses drugs designed to target specific cancer cells.

Meanwhile, there are several risk factors that can increase a man’s chance of developing the disease, just like in the case of female breast cancer. If you’re a man with any, all, or some of the following risk factors, vigilance is key.

Possible Risk Factors for Male Breast Cancer:

• Age. Breast cancer risk increases with age, and most cancers are found in patients over 50. The average age of a man diagnosed with breast cancer is 72.
• Family history. Men with close blood relatives who have had breast cancer are at higher risk for the disease.
• Genetic mutations.  Patients may inherit gene defects that make them more susceptible to breast cancer. Men with a mutation in the BRCA2 gene have a 6 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, and men with a mutation in the BRCA1 gene have a 1 percent lifetime risk. These gene mutations are most commonly found in families with strong histories of breast or ovarian cancer, but they have also been found in male breast cancer patients without a family history.
• Klinefelter syndrome. Men with Klinefelter syndrome are born with at least one extra X chromosome, which may increase a man’s breast cancer risk by producing high levels of estrogen (a hormone responsible for female sex characteristics) and low levels of androgens (hormones responsible for male sex characteristics). This condition affects about 1 in 1,000 men, and can raise the risk of breast cancer by 20 to 60 times that of the general population.
• Hormone therapy. Men who have been treated with drugs containing estrogen are at a greater risk of breast cancer. These drugs were once used to treat prostate cancer, and they are still used in sex reassignment processes.
• Conditions affecting the testicles. Testicle injuries, swelling, or removal surgery can increase a man’s risk for the disease by disrupting normal hormone levels.
• Liver disease. Diseases that impede the liver (like cirrhosis) may raise men’s estrogen production and lower their androgen levels, therefore, increasing breast cancer risk.
• Alcohol. Heavy drinking is known to raise the risk of breast cancer (which may be related to alcohol’s effect on the liver).
• Radiation therapy. Men who have received radiation therapy to their chests (for conditions like lymphoma) have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
• Obesity. Fat cells can transform androgens into estrogens, boosting the possibility of an overweight man developing breast cancer.

If any of the above risk factors apply to you, consult your doctor and feel free to ask questions. While it’s true that men can work to lower their breast cancer risk by exercising and maintaining a healthy body weight, the most important element of effective cancer treatment is an early diagnosis.

Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer Can Include:

• A lump developed in the breast (usually painless), or a thickening in the breast tissue
• Nipple pain
• An inverted nipple
• Discharge from the nipple, which may be clear or bloody (this was Mathew Knowles’ first symptom)
• Changes to the color or texture of the nipple and areola
• Changes to the color or texture of skin on the chest
• Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm

If You Feel Something, Say Something Men Ignore Symptoms Too Often

Treatment for male breast cancer is largely the same as that for female breast cancer. A person’s options depend greatly on a variety of factors, including the size of the tumor and how far the cancer cells have spread, but possibilities include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy.

There is Nothing to Be Ashamed of with Male Breast Cancer

Marc Futterweit is a two-time breast cancer survivor, and he knows firsthand that the shame that comes with a diagnosis of male breast cancer can be quite debilitating. The urge to just ignore the symptoms and tell yourself breast cancer is a woman’s disease may sway you from getting screened. But Marc has become an advocate for the disease and is now dedicated to halting that way of thinking.

“Men are basically standing in the shadows,” Futterweit says. “They’re ashamed or embarrassed … this is a woman’s disease. [But] why can’t men get breast cancer?”

A lot of people assume men can’t even get breast cancer because they don’t have breasts, but that’s not the case. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2025, and 510 men will die from it.

It’s much less common in men than it is in women (the lifetime risk of a man getting breast cancer is about 1 in 726), but surveillance and screening are still important.

That’s why Futterweit’s philosophy is “if you feel something, say something.”

He detected his own cancer when he felt an odd lump on his chest during a shower. He admits that he was baffled when his doctor suggested he get a mammogram, but in reality, it probably saved his life. “The problem with men is that they wait, and they think things are going to go away,” Futterweit says.

“Once they’re diagnosed, sometimes it’s too late.”

Questions for Your Doctor

If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, whether you’re a man or a woman, here are some questions you can ask your doctor to learn more about it.

• What kind of breast cancer do I have?
• Has the cancer spread to other parts of the body?
• What stage is my cancer in?
• What other tests should I seek to better understand the cancer before deciding on treatment?
• What are your treatment recommendations and their likely side effects?
• What other doctors can give me additional opinions?

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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