Breast cancer in males

• Published in: Helvetica chirurgica acta Vol. 46; no. 1-2; p. 159
• Main Authors: Brand, U, Spiliopoulos, A, Mégevand, R P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: Switzerland 01.05.1979
• Subjects: Aged; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - etiology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Humans; Klinefelter Syndrome - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 0018-0181

Until 1971 13 cases of breast cancer in men were observed in our service. In the world literature it accounts for 1% of all cancer of the breast; in our series we have found 4% of all breast cancer. Men present themselves for treatment later and with more advanced local signs than women. In our series, the greatest number of cases occurs near the seventies in men, which is about twenty years later than in women. The etiology is remained unknown, but Klinefelter's disease seems to be a risk for breast cancer. If there are no metastasis, we prefer in our service the surgical treatment as unique treatment. If possible the operation of Patey is realised, but sometimes we have to do a simple mastectomy only as a safe alternative for poor risk patient. In case of metastatic breast cancer the adjuvant treatment was X-ray therapy, chemotherapy and in some of our cases hormonotherapy. We do not have any experience with suppressive hormonal therapy such as orchiectomy or adrenalectomy. Most of the authors think that prognosis of breast cancer in males is worse than in women; the constant central localization of the tumour may be an explanation for that. The fate of women with central lesions is as poor as in males.