Can a 15 year old male have breast cancer?
The chances of a 15 year old boy having breast cancer are very, very close to zero. Yes, males can get breast cancer but it’s very rare – fewer than 1% of those diagnosed with breast cancer are male. When it does happen, it’s usually in men over 60. Overall, 80% of all people diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50; it’s rare in under 40s and almost unheard of in under 20s. So as you’re a male teenager, the odds are certainly in your favour. This is almost certainly a condition called gynaecomastia – a button-like growth under the nipple and areola area can be felt and is sometimes visible to the naked eye, and it can be quite tender. This increase in the amount of breast tissue is not a tumour and occurs due to changes in hormone balances at times like adolescence. It’s perfectly normal and it’s temporary.
