It ‘very rare for a man aged under 35 to get breast cancer, but the probability of developing the disease increases with age, with most being detected between 60 to 70 years. Family history of breast cancer in a close female relation and a history of exposure to radiation of the chest may also increase the risk.
The most obvious risk for developing breast cancer seems to be in men who have had an abnormal enlargement of their breasts (called gynecomastia) in response to drugs or hormone treatments, or even some infections and poisons. Individuals with a rare genetic disorder called Klinefelter’s syndrome, which often have gynecomastia, as part of the syndrome, are particularly prone to develop breast cancer. Men with severe liver disease tend to have lower levels of male hormones (androgens) and higher levels of female hormones (estrogen) by making an increased risk of developing gynecomastia and breast cancer. Furthermore, diseases of the testes, such as mumps orchites, an injury to the testicles, or an undescended testicle increase the risk of breast cancer in men.