One Transgender Man’s Story of Getting Breast Cancer

Although breast cancer in men is rare, it is not unheard of. According to the American Cancer Society, out of 255,000 individuals in the United States estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer, approximately 2,500 will be men. Still, the risk of breast cancer in transgender individuals has yet to be determined. To date, no studies have been conducted to assess breast cancer risk in trans individuals; however, this does not mean they are not at risk. A few studies are currently underway, but they require years’ worth of work to uncover any valuable information. One focus of these studies will be on the association between hormonal transition and the risk of breast cancer. Most recently, the National Institutes of Health has initiated a five-year study to monitor the health of adolescent transgender individuals and the hormonal effects on cancer risk.   

Casey Saxton is one such example. Casey was born and raised a woman, then underwent gender transformation to become a man, after which he was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2010, he went on to get his breasts removed, but in 2015, he felt a lump just beneath his right armpit. Initially, he thought it was scar tissue from the surgery, not even considering that he could get breast cancer. Due to his prior bad experiences with doctors, he avoided any medical visits. But gradually, the lump began throbbing, after which he underwent a cancer screening test. It was then confirmed that he had stage 3A breast cancer.

Image credit: Wisconsin State Journal