Q: Can men get breast cancer? How common is it?

A: Yes. Although men have much less breast tissue than women, they can still get breast cancer. Male breast cancer represents about 0.04 percent of the total; the 2013 estimate is 2,240 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Q: What are the risk factors for breast cancer in men?

A: As in female breast cancer, age is an important risk factor for breast cancer development in males. The older one gets, the higher the risk. Other risk factors include: alcohol use, liver disease, BRCA mutation (particularly the BRCA 2 variant), family history of breast cancer, radiation exposure and Klinefelter's Syndrome.

Q: What are the symptoms of breast cancer in men?

A: The main symptom of male breast cancer is a palpable lump. Others may include skin changes of the nipple and nipple discharge.

Q: What are the treatment options?

A: The treatment options are similar to those of female breast cancer. They include surgery and systemic treatment. Most male breast cancers are treated with mastectomy.

Q: Are there differences between the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in men and women?

A: There are no screening recommendations in place for males so they don't typically receive yearly mammographic imaging. Minimally invasive core biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of breast cancer for both males and females.

Q: What is the prognosis for men with breast cancer?

A: The prognosis for men with breast cancer depends upon the stage at the time of diagnosis. Stage for stage, the prognosis for breast cancer between men and women is similar.

Lori A. Alfonse, D.O. is a breast surgical oncologist with Lehigh Valley Health Network.