Breast Cancer in Men
Breast cancer in men usually presents as a unilateral (occurring on one side) lump or enlargement in breast tissue. Locally advanced presentations are slightly more common in men because the condition is often not diagnosed promptly. Most (80-90%) cases of breast cancer in men are invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC).
Incidence and Prevalence of Breast Cancer in Men
Approximately 1500 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in men each year in the United States and about 400 men die from the disease annually.
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Men
Medications to treat heartburn, ulcers, high blood pressure, and heart failure; liver disease; and abnormalities in hormone-producing glands may affect the metabolism or production of hormones, causing gynecomastia (enlargement of breast tissue in men). Gynecomastia increases a man's risk for breast cancer. Enlargement of breast tissue on one side may indicate the presence of cancer.
Treatment for Breast Cancer in Men
Breast cancer in men is usually treated with modified radical mastectomy and, in advanced cases, adjuvant radiation therapy. The prognosis depends on the size of the tumor and the stage of the disease.
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Original Date of Publication: 15 Aug 1999
Reviewed by: Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed:
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