Black Men and Breast Cancer

When most people hear the words breast cancer, they think of women. Pink ribbons, mammograms and women’s health campaigns have rightly saved countless lives.

Yet what is often missing from the conversation is that men can also develop breast cancer. Within that already small group, Black men face a higher risk but remain the least likely to know it.

This silence is costing lives.

A Rare but Real Disease

Each year in the United Kingdom, around 350 to 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. That represents less than one percent of all breast cancer cases, but behind every statistic is a man blindsided by a diagnosis he never expected. Many men do not realise that they have breast tissue, let alone that it can become cancerous.

According to Cancer Research UK, male breast cancer most often occurs in men between the ages of 60 and 70, although younger men can also be affected.

It usually presents as a painless lump beneath the nipple, sometimes accompanied by discharge, nipple inversion or puckering of the skin. In most cases, it is an invasive ductal carcinoma, similar to the type found in women.

What makes this more concerning for Black men is that the evidence suggests a higher risk and much lower awareness.

The Racial Disparity: What We Know

In the United States, research from the American Cancer Society shows that Black men are 52 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than white men. While ethnicity-based data in the United Kingdom is less comprehensive, the pattern is alarming and should not be ignored.

For many years, cancer data in Britain has failed to capture detailed information about race and ethnicity in the way American studies do. This lack of research does not mean that Black men in the United Kingdom are safer. It likely means that their experiences are being overlooked or underreported.

When a disease is rare and you belong to a community that is already marginalised, you risk being made invisible twice over.

The Stories Behind the Statistics

Graeme Brooks, a 62-year-old nurse from Liverpool, discovered a lump above his nipple and was later diagnosed with breast cancer. Following surgery, chemotherapy and hormone treatment, he began raising awareness, saying, “Breast cancer does not only affect women. I never imagined it could happen to me.”

David McCallion from Manchester had a similar experience. He was not only diagnosed with male breast cancer but was also dismissed from support groups because of his gender. “When I told the receptionist I had breast cancer,” he said, “she turned to my wife and apologised to her. She could not believe it was me.”

Although there are few public stories of Black men in the United Kingdom facing breast cancer, we know the cultural barriers they face. Many Black men already struggle with stigma in healthcare settings, lower trust in medical institutions and a reluctance to speak openly about personal health concerns, especially those seen as feminine.

That silence can be deadly.

What the Research Tells Us

A study by Coventry University explored the experience of a 55-year-old British man living with breast cancer.

He said, “I never dreamt it could happen to me.” That disbelief is common among men who are diagnosed.

In addition to low awareness, genetic factors play a role. Around one in ten men diagnosed with breast cancer carry a BRCA2 mutation, the same gene that significantly increases risk in women. Men with BRCA mutations should receive genetic counselling and regular check-ups, particularly if there is a family history of the disease.

Other known risk factors include:

• High oestrogen levels, often linked to obesity or liver disease
• Klinefelter’s syndrome, a genetic condition
• Radiation exposure
• Heavy alcohol use
• Hormonal imbalance

For Black men, these risks are magnified by social and structural inequalities such as limited outreach, lower participation in screening programmes and underrepresentation in clinical research.

Symptoms Men Should Never Ignore

Regardless of race, the symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to those in women. Seek medical advice immediately if you notice:

• A lump or swelling in the chest area
• Nipple discharge, sometimes with blood
• Nipple inversion or changes to its appearance
• Skin dimpling, puckering or redness
• Lumps or swelling in the armpit

Because breast cancer is so closely associated with women, many men delay seeking help. By the time they do, the disease may already have advanced. Early diagnosis is essential. Awareness can mean the difference between life and death.

Why This Matters for Black Men

For the Black community, breast cancer among men sits at the intersection of race, gender and health inequality.

The higher risk among Black men may be linked to genetics, environment or biological factors, but the lack of awareness is a crucial part of the problem.

The parallels with prostate cancer are clear. Black men in England are twice as likely to be diagnosed late with prostate cancer, often due to a lack of information, limited access to healthcare and mistrust of medical systems. The same structural issues apply here.

Breast cancer should not be seen as a women’s issue. It is a human issue, one that affects brothers, fathers, sons and friends.

Building Awareness in Our Communities

To change outcomes, awareness campaigns must include men and must specifically reach Black men.

Community organisations, faith groups and barbershops have long been trusted spaces for open conversation. These spaces can help challenge stigma and normalise dialogue about health.

Imagine a poster in a barbershop or cultural centre that reads:

“Men Have Breasts Too. Check Yourself.”

This is not about fear. It is about empowerment. The earlier a man recognises the signs, the greater his chance of survival.

A Call to Action

Check yourself. Once a month, feel for lumps or changes around your chest area.

Know your family history. If breast cancer runs in your family, even among women, speak to your GP.

Challenge the stigma. Talk about male breast cancer in your circle. Awareness saves lives.

Demand equity in data. Push for research that includes ethnicity breakdowns for men.

Join the conversation. Whether online or at community events, share your story and listen to others.

What Comes Next

The lack of data about Black men and breast cancer in the United Kingdom is a form of inequality in itself. It reveals who is visible and who is not.

Through storytelling, advocacy and education, we can change that.

Breast cancer is not defined by gender or race. The sooner we speak that truth, the more lives we will save.

Black Wall St. Media remains committed to amplifying the stories that matter. We stand with those who are unseen, unspoken and unheard, because awareness saves lives and knowledge is power.