What is the prevalence of breast cancer in males?

Answer

The etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer in males is similar to that in females. Unlike breast cancer in females, however, breast cancer in men is rare. Although its frequency has increased in recent decades—particularly in the urban United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom—breast cancer in males accounts for less than 1% of breast cancers.^{[1, 2]}In the United States, males are expected to account for only 2650 of the estimated 284,200 cases of breast cancer predicted to occur in 2021.^[3]

Unfortunately, this rarity has largely precluded prospective randomized clinical trials. It may also contribute to the infrequency of early diagnosis. Men tend to be diagnosed with breast cancer at an older age than women and with a more advanced stage of disease, and they have proportionately higher mortality, although outcomes for male and female patients with breast cancer are similar when survival is adjusted for age at diagnosis and stage of disease.^[4]

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A partially circumscribed retroareolar mass in a male with suspicious microcalcifications; this is known breast cancer.

For more information, see the following:

For patient education information, see Male Breast Cancer.

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Media Gallery

A partially circumscribed retroareolar mass in a male with suspicious microcalcifications; this is known breast cancer.

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Author

Bagi RP Jana, MD, MBA, MHA, FACP Professor of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center; Professor of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Bagi RP Jana, MD, MBA, MHA, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Cancer Society, American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, SWOG

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Chief Editor

John V Kiluk, MD, FACS Associate Professor, Department of Oncologic Sciences, Department of Surgery (Joint Appointment), University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine; Clinical Director, Breast Surgical Oncology, Associate Member, Comprehensive Breast Program, Department of Women's Oncology, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

John V Kiluk, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Society of Breast Surgeons, Moretz Surgical Society, Society of Surgical Oncology, Southeastern Surgical Congress

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology and Oncology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Therapeutic Expertise, Oncology, at PRA International

Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for Physician Leadership, European Society for Medical Oncology, Association of Clinical Research Professionals, American Federation for Clinical Research, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, American Medical Informatics Association, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, American Society of Hematology, Massachusetts Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alison T Stopeck, MD Professor of Medicine, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center; Director of Clinical Breast Cancer Program, Arizona Cancer Center; Medical Director of Coagulation Laboratory, University Medical Center; Director of Arizona Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center

Alison T Stopeck, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physicians, American Society of Hematology, SWOG, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society

Disclosure: Received honoraria from Genentech for speaking and teaching; Received honoraria from AstraZeneca for speaking and teaching; Received grant/research funds from AstraZeneca for other.

Rachel Swart, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona

Rachel Swart, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, Arizona Medical Association, SWOG, American Society of Clinical Oncology

Disclosure: Received grant/research funds from Roche for other.

Leona Downey, MD Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Section of Oncology and Hematology, University of Arizona, Arizona Cancer Center

Leona Downey, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Geriatrics Society, SWOG, American Society of Clinical Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert B Livingston, MD Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director, Clinical Research Shared Services, Arizona Cancer Center

Robert B Livingston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Federation for Clinical Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Patricia A Thompson, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Julie Lang, MD Associate Professor of Surgery, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Julie Lang, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Association for Academic Surgery, and Society of Surgical Oncology

Disclosure: Genomic Health, Grant/research funds, Speaking and teaching; Agendia, Grant/research funds, Speaking and teaching; Surgical Tools, Grant/research funds, Research; Sysmex, Grant/research funds, Research

What is the prevalence of breast cancer in males?

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