Medknow Publications on behalf of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI)
Abstract
Aim: Male breast cancer is a rare disease representing 1% of all
breast cancers and less than 1% of all cancers in men. Because of its
rarity, carcinoma breast has not been studied extensively and this
prompted us to carry out this retrospective study. The aim of the study
was to observe the clinical and pathological features, evaluate the
prognostic factors and to co-relate the outcome in patients of male
breast cancer. Materials and Methods : Thirty patients of male breast
cancer treated in the department of radiotherapy from year 1996-2000
were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The actuarial five- year
disease free survival was 40%. Three out of 30 i.e. 10% patients had
loco-regional recurrence and all of them had locally advanced disease
at presentation. Distant metastasis occurred in 9 patients of whom 6
patients had T3-T4 tumor and 1 patient had T1-T2 tumor. Conclusion:
Modified radical mastectomy followed by external radiation therapy is
the standard treatment for male breast cancer. Hormone therapy, as an
adjuvant treatment, is the first line approach in a majority of
patients and chemotherapy is reserved for patients with poor prognostic
factors