Elsevier

Seminars in Oncology

Volume 44, Issue 4, August 2017, Pages 267-272
Seminars in Oncology

Male Breast Cancer: Epidemiology and Risk Factors

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.seminoncol.2017.11.002Get rights and content

Abstract

Male breast cancer is a rare malignancy that accounts for less than 1% of all cancers in men and less than 1% of all breast cancers. But the incidence is rising and in some patient groups reaching 15% over the course of their lives. The major risk factors for the development of male breast cancer include advancing age, hormonal imbalance, radiation exposure, and a family history of breast cancer. Regarding the latter, incidence can be linked to mutations in high- or low-penetrance genes. The most relevant risk factor for the development of male breast cancer is a mutation in the BRCA2 gene. Most cases present late because of a lack of awareness of the existence of such a malignancy in males and ignorance of the related risk factors. Additionally, males with breast cancer are at special risk for developing a second cancer. This in depth review highlights the epidemiology and risk factors for the development of male breast cancer.

Section snippets

1. Introduction

The breast tissues of males and females are identical from birth until puberty, when hormonal differences lead to differentiation [1]. Estrogen stimulates the growth of breast tissue while androgen antagonizes these effects. During puberty in boys, there is an increase in estrogen level and a 30-fold increase in testosterone level. This leads to a transient proliferation of the ducts and stroma followed by involution and ultimately atrophy of the ducts. Therefore, the normal male breast is

2. Epidemiology

Male breast cancer comprises <1% of all cancers in men and <1% of all breast cancers [5]. With the aging of the population, the incidence is rising [6] reaching a plateau at age 80, with a mean age at diagnosis of 63.4 years, compared with 58.2 years in women [7]. The age-standardized incidence of male breast cancer is only 1/100,000 person-years, with a lifetime risk of 1/1,000. The incidence varies greatly in different geographical areas and amongst different ethnic groups [6], with a high

3. Risk Factors

It is likely male breast cancer results from the interaction of concurrent risk factors. According to this hypothesis, genetic risk factors including a positive family history of breast cancer and mutations in breast cancer predisposing genes, such as the BRCA genes, interact with hormonal imbalances and certain environmental and occupational hazards (Table 1).

4. Conclusions

The incidence of male breast cancer is rising because of the aging of the population. Incidence varies widely across geographical areas and can reach up to 15%. The advanced stage of male breast cancer at presentation is mainly because of a lack of awareness of the disease. The first step toward awareness for patients and health workers should be education about the existence of breast cancer in men and it’s known multiple risk factors.

Many patients with prostate cancer as well as other

Conflict of Interest Statement

Dr. Ali Jad Yousef discloses no conflict of interest regarding the article (Male Breast Cancer: Epidemiology and Risk Factors).

Acknowledgment and Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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