According to the American Cancer Society, men tend to be diagnosed at an older age with breast cancer compared to women. For men, the average age at the time of diagnosis is 67 (vs. 62 for women).

Regular physical examinations and maintaining an accurate medical history are important for maintaining good health, especially when screening for cancer. In this way, physicians are more likely to detect the disease before symptoms are present. When breast cancer is caught in its earliest stages, the survival rates are dramatically increased and the adjuvant therapies are much more successful. Adjuvant therapies are non-surgical treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy) aimed at reducing the risk of a recurrence.

If a man presents with a suspicious lump, the physician may order a mammogram. Mammograms are x-ray pictures of the breast that can show a tumor before it is large enough to feel. Mammograms can also pick up microcalcifications (minute deposits of calcium), which may be signs of cancer. Although mammograms are usually associated with a woman's breast, mammography can be obtained of any breast tissue. 

If a mammogram proves to be inconclusive as to whether a lump is solid (tumor) or cystic (fluid-filled), a physician may order a breast ultrasound. The ultrasound test works by sending and receiving high-frequency sound waves to create images of internal organs or tissues.

Sound waves are reflected by the tissues of the area being examined. These sound waves are recorded and displayed on a computer screen or television-type monitor or printed out for a physician to review.

Ultrasound creates images of soft tissue organs. It is often used to screen for a wide array of conditions since it is fast, noninvasive and relatively inexpensive. However, ultrasound is less sensitive than CAT scan (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), either of which could be used in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in men.

If the mammogram or ultrasound shows an area of possible concern, a biopsy is usually the next step. The physician most likely will refer the patient to a surgeon who will perform the procedure at the hospital in an outpatient setting. In some cases, a needle biopsy may be performed at the time of the mammography.

A biopsy is the removal of a sample of cells or tissues of concern so that they can be viewed and analyzed under a microscope by a pathologist. The pathologist will determine whether or not the cells are malignant and possibly determine the type and grade of the cancer.

Many breast biopsies are benign (noncancerous). However, if the biopsy turns out to be malignant (cancerous), additional tests may be recommended to further determine the course of treatment and whether or not the cancer has spread beyond the breast. Some of the tests that may be done if the tumor is malignant include:

• Chest x-ray. The purpose of the chest x-ray is to determine if the breast cancer has spread to the lungs. This is normally done before any breast cancer surgery occurs.
  
  
• Bone scan. Breast cancer commonly spreads to the bone in its advanced stage. A bone scan is usually done with breast cancer patients to detect metastasis to the bones. The bone scan involves injecting a small amount of radioactive substance into the patient's vein. The substance is attracted to areas of the bone that may be abnormal, which then appear on films.
  
  
• Computed axial tomography (CAT scan or CT scan). If metastasis to other organs is suspected or needs to be ruled out for any reason, the physician may order a CAT scan. This is normally used for more advanced or later-stages of breast cancer. CAT scans create images of the patient’s internal organs by taking multiple x-rays from different vantage points. A contrast dye may be injected into the patient’s vein prior to the test for better viewing of tissues or organs.
  
  
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRIs are powerful magnets linked to a computer. The MRI creates detailed images of the breast tissue to determine the need to proceed in the diagnosis of a mass. MRIs are often used prior to surgery for a detailed image of location of the cancer.
  
  
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A radioactive sugar substance is injected into the patient prior to testing. Cancer cells, with their high rate of metabolism, quickly absorb the radioactive substance and appear as "hot" areas on the image. A PET scan is typically used to detect any metastasis of the cancer or to monitor any recurrence of the disease.
  
  
• Blood tests. A complete blood count (CBC), as well as blood chemical and enzyme tests, are normally requested prior to any surgery to determine if the blood has the correct type and number of blood cells. Blood tests give a quick glimpse into the patient’s overall health. Circulating antigens called tumor markers also may be checked through specific blood tests.
  
  
• Tumor tests. Testing the tumor is extremely important for breast cancer as it bears significant weight in determining the best treatment options for each individual patient. Two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, are tested for within the cancer cells (even for male breast cancer). The result will give the estrogen-receptor status and the progesterone-receptor status. These results have impact on the type of treatment for the cancer.
  
  Cancers that are receptor-positive will benefit from certain hormone treatments that will not help negative receptor cancers. For those breast cancer patients with an invasive form of breast cancer, the tumor should also be tested for another receptor called HER2/neu. Cancer cells that overexpress the HER2/neu oncogene grow more rapidly but respond better to specific combinations of adjuvant therapy.