MALE BREAST CANCER: AN INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE

Background Breast cancer is less common in males than females and accounts for about 1% of all malignancies among males. The data on this patient population remains largely unexploredpartially in India since the lifetime risk of developing this cancer is unusually low.

MethodsThis is a prospective observational study of male patients diagnosed with breast cancer during 2014 to 2021 at a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. Management consisted of surgery (Modified Radical Mastectomy) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy with or without hormonal therapy. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

ResultsA total of 22 patients with a mean age of 59 (range 36-85) yearswere included. The primary presenting complaint was subareolar swelling in 15(68.1%)patients. The histology revealed invasive ductal carcinoma in 22(100%) cases. Breast cancer hormone receptor status (ER/PR-positive) was seen in 20(90.9%) patients. The median follow-up was 38 months. A total of 20(90.9%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy. The local recurrence was noted in 6(27.3%) patients. The lung andbone metastaseswere seen in 2(9.1%)patients,liver metastases in 1(4.5%)patient, andbilateral breast cancer in 1(4.5%) patient. At the last available visit, 10(45.4%) patients were following up, 9(40.9%) lost to follow up and unfortunately, 3(13.7%) patients were deceased.

ConclusionsThe prognosis of patients with male breast cancer at our center was good. Although male breast cancer has similarities to those in women, there are distinct differences that need to be studied to improve treatment outcomes.