Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare, with the peak age of onset at 71 years. BRCA2 mutations are more frequent than BRCA1 with 20% of cases giving a family history. Risk factors for MBC are poorly understood and include working in high ambient temperatures and exhaust fume exposure. MBC is associated with hyperestrogenic states found in liver disease, Klinefelter?’s syndrome, gonadal dysfunction or obesity. Most information on treatment of MBC is derived from large randomised trials carried out in female patients. The small numbers of MBC seen in any unit annually has precluded significant trials being carried out.
Diagnosis and treatment of MBC is similar to that of female patients but men tend to be treated with mastectomy rather than breast conserving surgery. The mainstay of adjuvant therapy or palliative treatment for advanced disease is endocrine, mostly tamoxifen. Prognosis of male patients is equal to that of stage-matched women, but men tend to fare worse because of delay in presentation leading to a large proportion of patients presenting with stage III or IV disease. Increased input is needed for psychological support for male breast cancer patients. Specific therapeutic questions about MBC need international trials to obtain meaningful answers.
Further information:
Related posts:
- Does neoadjuvant chemotherapy increase breast conservation in operable breast cancer: an Egyptian experience
- Association of shared decision-making with type of breast cancer surgery: a cross-sectional study
- Most early-stage breast cancer patients may not need radiation after mastectomy
- The introduction of a breast cancer screening programme in a region with a population at medium-risk for breast cancer: Khanty-Mansiysky autonomous Okrug-Ugra (Russian Federation)
- Risk of breast cancer among daughters of mothers with diabetes: a population-based cohort study
Posted in