1. Breast Cancer Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Breast Cancer Quiz
3. Disease Prevention in Women Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Dennis Lee, MD

Dennis Lee, MD

Dr. Lee was born in Shanghai, China, and received his college and medical training in the United States. He is fluent in English and three Chinese dialects. He graduated with chemistry departmental honors from Harvey Mudd College. He was appointed president of AOA society at UCLA School of Medicine. He underwent internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is male breast cancer?
• How common is male breast cancer?
• What are causes and risk factors of male breast cancer?
• What are the different types of male breast cancer?
• What are male breast cancer symptoms and signs?
• How is male breast cancer diagnosed?
• What is staging of male breast cancer?
• What is the treatment for male breast cancer?
• What is the outcome (prognosis) of male breast cancer?
• Male Breast Cancer At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Male Breast Cancer - Diagnosis
• Patient Comments: Male Breast Cancer - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Male Breast Cancer - Treatment
• Find a local Oncologist in your town
• Male Breast Cancer Index

The prognosis of a patient with male breast cancer is considered similarly to breast cancer in a woman. As in women, the size and extent (stage) of tumor are the most important factors in the prognosis for male breast cancer. Overall survival rates for each tumor stage are similar for men and women. Since men have less breast tissue than women, it is more common for breast cancers in men to have spread beyond the breast when they are identified, resulting in a more advanced tumor stage at diagnosis.

Disease-specific five-year survival rates (meaning the percentage of patients who do not die of the disease for at least five years following diagnosis) reported for male breast cancer by stage are as follows:

• Stage 0 - 100%



• Stage I - 96%



• Stage II - 88%



• Stage III - 60%



• Stage IV - 23%

These survival rates were calculated using historical data, and it is likely that current treatments will lead to even greater survival rates for those recently diagnosed.

• Male breast cancer is rare and accounts for only about 1% of all breast cancers.
• Breast cancer risk in men is increased by elevated levels of estrogen, previous radiation exposure, and a family history of breast cancer.
• Infiltrating ductal carcinoma is the most common type of male breast cancer.
• A lump beneath the nipple is the most common symptom of male breast cancer.
• Male breast cancer is staged (reflecting the extent of tumor spread) identically to breast cancer in women.
• Surgery is the most common initial treatment for male breast cancer; chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy are also administered.
• The prognosis of male breast cancer, like breast cancer in women, is predominantly influenced by tumor stage.

REFERENCES:

The American Cancer Society

United States. "Breast Cancer." National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast>.

United States. "Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results." National Cancer Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health. <http://www.seer.cancer.gov>.