The widespread belief that breast cancer affects only women is delaying diagnosis among male patients. Many men dismiss a painless lump in the chest and seek medical care only after the disease has advanced. Meanwhile, the incidence of male breast cancer in South Korea has roughly doubled over 16 years.
Men Get Breast Cancer, Too: 70 Deaths Over Five Years
In Costa Rica, 70 men died of breast cancer between 2021 and 2025, according to the Spanish-language outlet Infobae on the 19th.
Data from Costa Rica's national statistics and census institute showed a total of 8,237 breast cancer deaths during the period, comprising 8,167 women and 70 men. Men accounted for about 0.85% of the total, or an average of 14 deaths a year.
The problem is that the perception of male breast cancer as rare tends to delay diagnosis.
Dr. Kathryn Ruddy, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, said breast cancer in women is usually detected at stage 0 or 1, while male patients are relatively more often diagnosed at stages 2 through 4.
Men have less breast tissue than women, which can make lumps easier to feel. Even small tumors, however, can affect surrounding tissue such as the skin or nipple.
Dr. Marny Ramos of Costa Rica's social security agency said diagnosis is delayed because there are fewer male patients than female patients and men often seek medical care late.
Get Checked Even Without Pain: What to Watch for in the Chest
The most common symptom is a new lump in the chest. Even in the absence of pain, any unusual change — such as a shift in the shape of the nipple or dimpling of the skin — warrants a medical examination.
Yader Sandoval, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Universidad Hispanoamericana in Costa Rica, said that not knowing men can develop breast cancer can delay diagnosis. He stressed that anyone who finds a lump in the chest should be examined even if it does not hurt.
Breast cancer can occur without a family history. When symptoms raise suspicion, doctors perform a mammogram or ultrasound, and if necessary confirm whether cancer is present through a biopsy.
Treatment is similar to that for breast cancer in women. Depending on how far the disease has progressed, all or part of the breast may be removed, combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Early detection has a major effect on survival. According to Sandoval, the five-year relative survival rate reaches about 97% when the cancer is found while still confined to the breast.
Incidence Doubles in Korea in 16 Years, With Survival Below Women's
Male breast cancer patients continue to emerge in South Korea as well.
A study analyzing 2023 national cancer registry statistics from the Korea Central Cancer Registry at the National Cancer Center found that 156 men were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in the country that year, about 0.5% of the total 29,871 new patients. Breast cancer killed 17 men the same year.
Researchers at Hanyang University Hospital analyzed National Health Insurance Service data from 2007 to 2023 and found that the incidence of male breast cancer in South Korea roughly doubled over the 16 years.
For the 2019-2023 period, the five-year relative survival rate for male breast cancer patients was 88.2%, 6.6 percentage points lower than for female patients at 94.8%. The gap does not mean male breast cancer is inherently more dangerous, as factors such as the stage at diagnosis, access to treatment and coexisting conditions can play a role.
GLOBOCAN, the global cancer statistics database maintained by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, estimated about 2.43 million new breast cancer cases worldwide among men and women combined in 2024, with 693,660 deaths. Breast cancer ranks second among all cancers by number of cases and fourth by number of deaths.
Experts stressed that men who notice any new change in the chest should be examined regardless of whether it is painful.
