Here’s a name you probably know: Matthew Knowles, Beyoncé’s dad. He opened up about his battle with male breast cancer, talking about the shame and silence that surround it. At 73, he stood tall and spoke out, hoping to shake off the stigma. “The more you talk about it, the more it loses its power,” he said — and honestly, that hits home.

The Invisible Threat: Why It Slips Under the Radar

You can see how this gets overlooked so easily. Men don’t have as much breast tissue as women, and let’s be real, breast cancer has always been seen as a “woman’s issue.” That mindset doesn’t help. But just because something’s uncommon doesn’t mean it’s not serious. The American Cancer Society estimates that 2,650 men in the U.S. alone will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025. That might seem like a small number compared to women, but tell that to someone who’s just been diagnosed.

Most cases in men are spotted after 60, but don’t assume younger guys are off the hook. Symptoms? They’re eerily similar to what women experience: a painless lump, changes in breast skin, discharge from the nipple — things that are easy to ignore or misread. Because male breast cancer is so uncommon, many men chalk these signs up to something harmless. That delay in seeking help? It can be deadly.

Not Just Rare — Also Underrepresented

Here’s the other issue: barely anyone talks about male breast cancer. Public awareness is shockingly low. Flip through any health campaign — it’s almost always centred on women. That leaves men who do get diagnosed feeling like they’ve been left out of the conversation. No guidance, no visible support systems. And worse — that awful stigma of having a “woman’s disease.”

It’s a strange, almost awkward experience for many men. Some feel embarrassed, others just feel completely alone. Even the idea of joining a support group feels alien — most are tailored for women, and men often don’t know where to turn. It’s not just about treating the illness; it’s the emotional toll that comes with navigating unfamiliar territory.

So What’s Behind It?

Like many cancers, male breast cancer often has its roots in genetics. If there’s a family history, especially if female relatives had it, the risk jumps. Mutations in genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are more commonly linked to women’s breast and ovarian cancers, are big red flags for men, too. Still, not all cases are genetic.

Hormonal imbalances are another piece of the puzzle. Men with higher oestrogen levels — maybe due to obesity, liver issues, or certain treatments — are more vulnerable. Past radiation therapy to the chest? Also, a risk. Then there’s Klinefelter syndrome, a rare condition where a man has an extra X chromosome. This can mess with testosterone levels and push oestrogen up — another factor that increases cancer risk.

The bottom line? Catching it early makes a huge difference. Any changes in the chest — lumps, skin changes, or discomfort shouldn’t be shrugged off. And sure, there’s growing awareness around breast cancer in general, but let’s not forget: men are part of that picture too.

Getting Treated — The Road’s the Same, But Feels Different

Treatment-wise, there’s not much difference between how doctors approach breast cancer in men versus women. Most start with surgery — removing the tumour, sometimes even the whole breast, depending on how far it’s spread. After that, options like radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy might follow, especially if the cancer responds to hormones.

But here’s the tricky part. Emotionally, it can hit men differently. Support groups and networks for women are everywhere, not so much for men. That sense of community, of knowing someone else who’s been through it, is harder to find. Many men report feeling isolated. The physical side of things doesn’t help either — hair loss, scarring, body image changes from surgery — all of it can mess with one’s confidence and sense of identity.

Looking Forward: Creating Space for Men in This Conversation

Thankfully, some things are changing. Slowly but surely, awareness campaigns focused on male breast cancer are popping up. These aim to bring men into the conversation, offering them information, connection, and encouragement to act early. Some groups are even building resources tailored just for men. It’s a start.

Ongoing research is crucial too. The more we understand about the unique ways this disease affects men, from hormonal factors to genetics, the better we can treat it. And hopefully, more effectively.

Ending the Silence

Let’s call it what it is: a serious issue hiding in plain sight. Male breast cancer doesn’t care about your gender. The silence around it? That’s what we need to fight. When men speak out, share their experiences, and stop feeling ashamed — that’s when real change starts. That’s when someone else, somewhere, might feel less alone and seek help sooner.

Breast cancer isn’t a “woman’s disease.” It’s a human one. And it’s time we stopped pretending otherwise.

The post Male Breast Cancer: Breaking the Silence on an Overlooked Health Issue appeared first on NRI News.

Some of the skippers on the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest have already seen their first albatross, indeed the extraordinary shots of race leader Charles Caudrelier on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild near the Kerguelens, taken yesterday by a French fishing vessel, show he is in good company in more ways than one. But today, as he descends into the Indian Ocean some 1400 miles to the west of Caudrelier, second-placed Thomas Coville was given to reflect on his love of the albatross and their comforting presence. 

Today’s image of Maxi Edmond de Rothschild in the Indian Ocean is exceptional. It was taken by Niels Gins, a scientist and controller of the TAAF (Ed note Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises) who is a controller aboard a fishing boat from the French seafood company Sapmer. Gins looks after the regulatory measures and collects essential data for the scientific monitoring of deep ocean fishing down in these low latitudes. He is also responsible for capturing images of marine wildlife, observing vessels, including possible illegal fishing vessels “pirate fishing” and he occasionally captures the odd passing, ULTIM doing more than 30kts.

Coville is back in his element
“He’s up there. He revolves around me, and he is what I’ve been looking for. I see it as a first reunion. And probably it is less poetic for him.” Coville is in a contemplative and intimate mood as took the time to record an audio message, to detail his first encounter with an albatross on this new passage into the big south on this, his ninth circuit of the globe. The Cape of Good Hope is well behind him now and his Sodebo Ultim 3 is already carving its way into the Indian Ocean, still pretty much pacing the leader Caudrelier – indeed in the 24hrs to 1700hrs this evening Coville sailed 16 miles further.

Coville: “When you pass the Cape of Good Hope, you enter the world of albatrosses. This is their world, not ours. It’s rather like entering a ring-fenced area. It’s a very special moment. I would like to offer this moment to everyone involved in the project and in particular, the team members that have been supporting me. Just like the albatrosses, they are there without being seen. Somewhere in the background circling me, watching what’s going on, looking for an idea, a kind word, someone to show them some attention. In our work, there is a lot to overcome, but also a lot of being with others and feeling that human warmth. The albatross flies in that spirit. It may sound a bit odd, but that is what is going on for me and it is very emotional.”

In the fourth and fifth Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire XI) and Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim) are getting closer to the south after a long, circuitous detour around the west of the Saint Helena High. Marchand skipper on Actual Ultim 3 told us earlier today, “We are in a small strip of wind with the ice exclusion zone not that far away and with Armel just ahead. We are finally heading East with the Cape of Good Hope coming up ahead soon, and it will be nice to get that left behind us. It’s starting to get colder and colder. The nights are very short, which is great.”

In the sixth Eric Péron told us about his situation on Sunday evening. “It’s been a busy week with lots of things to do aboard the boat. Lots of odds and ends, and plenty of work to do, and that all takes time. My route crossing the South Atlantic means that we can be faster on our trajectory towards the Cape of Good Hope, but there isn’t much wind. The boat is doing well and I have managed to get some rest. It’s good that there are times when we can ease off. This is a long race and we need to keep at it.”

Arriving off Cape Town very early this morning, Tom Laperche was met by a wall of winds gusting to 50 to 60 knots along the coast. It was impossible to consider any kind of access to the port. So SVR-Lazartigue had to stay on standby, hove too into the wind, waiting for better conditions. The wind eventually died down, and four members of the team boarded the giant ULTIM later in the morning. Securing the boat and analyzing the damage are their two missions at the moment. Laperche was sent ashore so that he could rest and recover with some good sleep. With the wind still blowing heavily, the technical team has not yet been able to dock the giant multi in the port of Cape Town.

Text Credits: ARKEA Ultim Challenge
Video Credits: NEFSEA Productions/PolaRYSE

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Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among Indians, and at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, one out of three patients we meet at cancer OPD has breast cancer, with the most common age group being 50-60. The aim of this rally was to increase public awareness about cancer and its impact on the community, emphasizing the importance of community screening programs, preventive measures, early detection, and advances in technology that have improved breast cancer patients’ survival results.

Dr. Durgatosh Pandey, Head of Oncology Sciences & Consultant -Surgical Oncology, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, flagged off the bike rally and said, “Breast cancer has become the most common health condition among women in India. Stress, unhealthy eating habits, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and air and water pollution have all been linked to the rise in cases among young Indian women. It is important that we take this condition seriously and understand the importance of early detection and timely treatment. With this bike rally, we aim to equip women with knowledge about self-screening methods and preventive measures for breast cancer. This can help in improving the quality of life.“

Ms. Viji Varghese, Hospital Director, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, said, “At Manipal Hospitals, we’re committed to raising awareness and encouraging timely checkups for breast cancer. We celebrate World Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October to highlight the importance of caring for ourselves and our loved ones. Our comprehensive cancer treatment center and oncology department, equipped with advanced technologies, enable us to treat critical cancer conditions. This rally showcases our commitment to inspiring people to prioritize their health, participate in regular screenings, and join the fight against breast cancer. We focus on personalized cancer care plans for each of our patients.“

Manipal Hospitals is among the top healthcare providers in India, serving over 5 million patients annually. Its focus is to develop an affordable, high-quality healthcare framework through its multispecialty and tertiary care delivery spectrum and further extend it to out-of-hospital care. With the completion of the acquisition of AMRI Hospitals, the integrated network will have a pan-India footprint of 33 hospitals across 17 cities with 9,500 beds a talented pool of over 5,000 doctors, and an employee strength of over 20,000. Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from around the globe. Manipal Hospitals is NABH, and AAHRPP accredited, and most of the hospitals in its network are NABL, ER, and Blood Bank accredited and recognized for Nursing Excellence. Manipal Hospitals have also been recognized as the most respected and patient-recommended hospital in India through various consumer surveys.

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