Men with breast cancer may be rare but it can happen

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - Radiologist Phyllis Martin-Simmerman with IU Health Arnett stopped by News 18 Daybreak Tuesday morning to discuss the issue of men with breast cancer.

It's an issue that's not often part of the discussion when we talk about National Breast Cancer Awareness Month but Dr. Martin-Simmerman says that's no reason to ignore it. The reason why we don't hear more about the topic, she says, is because of the numbers. Men with breast cancer is rare but it can happen. One out of 1,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer versus one out of every eight women. That's a dramatic difference.

It can often be an uncomfortable topic for men to discuss with their doctor since breast cancer is commonly associated with women. Dr. Martin-Simmerman says men should be self-aware and openly communicate with their doctor should they notice a lump or feel anything unusual about their breasts.