Myth or Medicine? Why Men Suckling Women’s Breasts Won’t Prevent Breast Cancer

 It’s one of those myths that just won’t go away. You’ve probably seen the claim circulating on social media or heard it whispered in a barbershop — that men suckling women’s breasts can somehow prevent breast cancer.

Now, the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has come out to set the record straight: there’s absolutely no scientific evidence to support this idea.

During a Breast Cancer Awareness Month event at the Uganda Media Center, Dr. Naghib Bogere, an oncologist at UCI, addressed the growing misinformation head-on. “We know that breastfeeding is one of the proven ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer,” he said. “The longer a woman breastfeeds, the more her breast cells mature, making them less likely to develop cancer. But these changes cannot happen if a husband is the one suckling the breasts.”

In other words — men, you can show your support in better ways.

Dr. Bogere explained that such myths may seem harmless, but they can actually prevent women from taking meaningful steps to protect their health. “Misinformation like this gives people false hope,” he warned. “It distracts from real prevention — like early screening and regular check-ups.”

He encouraged men to be allies in the fight against breast cancer by reminding their partners to examine their breasts monthly, watching out for any unusual lumps, pain, or discharge, and seeking medical help right away. “When breast cancer is detected early, up to 90% of cases can be successfully treated,” Dr. Bogere noted.

And here’s something many people don’t realize: men can get breast cancer too.
According to UCI data, about one in every 25 breast cancer patients in Uganda is male. “Men also have breast tissue and should not ignore changes in their chests,” Dr. Bogere said.

Throughout October, the Uganda Cancer Institute will hold free breast cancer screening camps and awareness drives across the country — an effort to promote early detection and counter the flood of misinformation that often circulates during awareness campaigns.

Dr. Jackson Orem, the Executive Director of UCI, emphasized that breast cancer remains the leading cancer among women in Uganda, with over 4,000 new cases each year. “Many of these women come to us too late,” he said. “We want to change that — and part of the solution is making sure the right information reaches the public.”

So, the next time you hear someone say men suckling women’s breasts prevents cancer, you’ll know the truth — it doesn’t. What really saves lives is knowledge, early screening, and timely treatment.