My Breakthrough
Male breast cancer study
By understanding what causes male breast cancer, we can develop new ways to prevent the disease and provide better information on how to reduce the risk of disease.
Why are we interested?
In the UK, around 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Little is known about why some men develop breast cancer. Our understanding is improving and some associated risk factors are thought to include, age, radiation exposure, oestrogen levels and Klinefelter’s syndrome. Yet we still do not know what causes the disease and how risk can be reduced.
How are we investigating this?
Breakthrough is supporting a national investigation into the causes of breast cancer in men, which will be the largest male breast cancer study carried out to date. It will involve the study and comparison of 1,000 men who have had breast cancer and 1,000 men of similar age and background who have not had breast cancer.
Because the incidence of breast cancer in men is low compared to women, it is not suitable to include men in a large cohort study, like the Breakthrough Generations Study, to determine the causes of breast cancer. In fact, a cohort study investigating male breast cancer would require over 10 million men to take part! Instead, this study will recruit men who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer and will investigate the causes of breast cancer in men in a targeted manner.
Whilst investigating breast cancer in men, this study may also shed new light on the causes of female breast cancer.
Who is taking part?
Due to the targeted nature of the Male Breast Cancer Study, participants will be approached by the study organisers rather than recruited from the public, like the participants for the Breakthrough Generations Study.
Who is carrying out this research?
This is a collaborative project between The Institute of Cancer Research and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The research is led by Professor Anthony Swerdlow of The Institute of Cancer Research and Professor Alan Ashworth, Director of the Breakthrough Research Centre.
