About Breast Cancer in Men

Statistics regarding men and breast cancer:

Breast cancer in men is rare - less than 1 percent of all breast carcinomas occur in men. Consider the latest statistics available from the American Cancer Society:

• The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007 some 2,030 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the US.

• Breast cancer is about 100 times more common among women.

• Estimates for 2007 also indicate that there will be more than 40,910 deaths from breast cancer in the US (40,460 women, 450 men).

• The average age at diagnosis is between 60 and 70, although men of all ages can be affected with the disease.

What are risk factors for breast cancer in men?

Risk factors may include:

• radiation exposure
  
  
• estrogen administration
  
  
• diseases associated with hyperestrogenism, such as cirrhosis or Klinefelter's syndrome

Also, there are definite familial tendencies for developing breast cancer:

• An increased incidence is seen in men who have a number of female relatives with breast cancer.
  
  
• An increased risk of male breast cancer has been reported in families in which a BRCA2 (Breast Cancer 2) gene mutation has been identified. One study published in early 2007 in the journal Breast Cancer Research found that BRCA2 was responsible for 15 percent of breast cancers in men.

What is the most common type of breast cancer in men?

Infiltrating ductal cancer is the most common tumor type, but intraductal cancer, inflammatory carcinoma, and Paget's disease of the nipple have been described as well.

Lobular carcinoma in situ has not been identified in men.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer in men?

The following are the most common symptoms of breast cancer in men. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• breast lumps
• nipple inversion
• nipple discharge (sometimes bloody)
• a pain or pulling sensation in the breast

The symptoms of breast cancer may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.

What are the similarities to breast cancer in women?

Lymph node involvement and the hematogenous pattern of spread are similar to those found in female breast cancer. The staging system for male breast cancer is identical to the staging system for female breast cancer.

Prognostic factors that have been evaluated include the size of lesion and the presence or absence of lymph node involvement, both of which correlate well with prognosis.

Overall survival is similar to that of women with breast cancer. The impression that male breast cancer has a worse prognosis may stem from the tendency toward diagnosis at a later stage.

Treatment options for men with breast cancer:

Specific treatment for male breast cancer will be determined by your physician based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference

The primary standard treatment is a modified radical mastectomy, just as it is with female breast cancer.

Other treatment may include:

• radiation therapy - therapy that uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors (External radiation by an x-ray machine sends the x-ray through the skin. Internal radiation puts radioisotopes into the body through thin plastic tubes.).
  
  
• hormone therapy - treatment of cancer by removing, blocking, or adding hormones.
  
  
• chemotherapy - drugs used to kill cancer cells.
  
  
• adjuvant therapy - radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy given after surgery for the removal of cancer as a safety factor to kill any cancer cells that cannot be seen; adjuvant therapy may be considered on the same basis as it is for a woman with breast cancer - since there is no evidence that prognosis is different for men or women.

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