The most common symptom of male breast cancer is the appearance of a lump in the breast. In most cases, the lump will be painless.
Less common symptoms of male breast cancer usually affect the nipple. These can include:
- nipple retraction - where the nipple begins to turn in on itself,
- nipple ulceration - where the nipple becomes hard, inflamed, and ‘sore looking’, and
- nipple discharge - where fluid begins to leak from the nipple.
Additional symptoms usually only develop if the cancer spreads from your breast to other parts of the body (metastasis).
These additional symptoms can include:
- breast pain,
- bone pain, and
- swelling of the lymph nodes (glands) near the breast; usually in, or around, the armpit.
When to seek medical advice
You should always visit your GP if you notice a lump in your breast, or you have symptoms that affect your nipples, such as retraction, ulceration, or discharge.
While symptoms such as these are unlikely to be the result of male breast cancer, they should be investigated further.
