4 Male Breast Cancer Symptoms that Shouldn't Be Ignored

When we talk about breast cancer, we rarely talk about the men who are diagnosed with the condition. So often, we assume breast cancer is exclusively a women's disease, says Dr. Kristen Fernandez, medical director of the breast center at the MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center in Maryland.

"Men think they don’t have breast tissue, but they do," she explains to MensHealth.com.

Guys have less breast tissue than women do, so their risk of developing breast cancer is comparatively more rare. In fact, guys make up less than one percent of breast cancer cases. But the risk of a man developing breast cancer still exists, and Fernandez says many men often ignore the symptoms.

While guys don't necessarily need to perform regular self breast exams, Fernandez strongly believes that guys should occasionally check for pain or lumps in their breast tissue. And if you do experience pain, "don’t ignore it" and see a doctor right away, she says.

In advance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, here are four symptoms of breast cancer that guys should watch out for.