Most men know that when they head to the doctor's office for a checkup, they will be screened for prostate cancer, but one man said he gets routine breast exams as well.

Craig McMillan is a breast cancer survivor.

McMillan said he loves spending time in his wood shop.

"I just enjoy producing a finished product," he said.

But McMillan said he had to put that love on hold while he was treated for breast cancer.

"I was taking a shower and I noticed a lump in my breast, and at the time, I really didn't worry about it," he said.

Dr. Stephanie Hines, of the Mayo Clinic, said male breast cancer is fairly rare, but does exist.

"Men don't think they can get it, and it's true that the biggest risk factor for breast cancer is your gender, being a woman," she said. "But men can get breast cancer. Between 1,000 and 2,000 men are expected to get breast cancer this year."

Many men who develop it don't think about the possibility until the cancer has been there for awhile, Hines said. She said it's often diagnosed in men at an advanced age.

That's why all men, especially those with a family history of breast cancer and those whose families have been identified as being carriers of BCRA2, a breast cancer gene, should be aware and watch for changes in the breast, she said.

Lumps, skin changes, nipple changes or bleeding from the nipple should be checked out by a doctor, Hines said. If it is cancer, she said, men have the same treatment as women.

"I had bilateral mastectomy," McMillan said.

He said he also went through chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

But rather than feel embarrassed about his situation, McMillan said he developed strong connections with female cancer patients.

"I became bosom buddies," he said. "I have a lot of female friends who have consoled me, and I've consoled them. I mean, I'm sort of like one of the girls."

McMillan was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer. He said he's now cancer-free and enjoying life and time in his woodshop.

For more information, visit the Mayo Clinic Web site.

Information made available by the Mayo Clinic.