Breast tissue health

Men and women have breast tissue. Even if you've had top surgery for transgender men to remove your breasts and create a more male-contoured chest (masculinizing chest surgery), you'll still have some residual breast tissue. While the risk is greatly reduced, breast cancer can occur. To promote breast tissue health:

• Tell your doctor if any family members have had breast cancer.
• Become familiar with the look and feel of your breasts or your chest wall if you have had top surgery and know what changes to look for that might be a sign of a problem. Tell your doctor if you notice any changes.
• Ask your doctor about breast cancer screening, including a yearly breast exam or regular mammograms.

Trans men who haven't had their breasts removed require breast cancer screenings based on guidelines for women whose gender identity and expression matches the stereotypical societal characteristics related to sex assigned at birth (cisgender). Screening recommendations vary. Talk to your doctor about what's right for you.

If you've had your breasts removed and a mammogram isn't physically possible, you might have an MRI or ultrasound to check your breast tissue.