ABSTRACT
Male breast cancer is rare and usually accounts for nearly 1% of the disease. There are several risk factors associated with the development of male breast cancer, including genetic, endocrine, and environmental factors. The most potent risk factor for male breast cancer noted is Klinefelter syndrome. The text discusses the clinical presentation and diagnosis of male breast cancer. Unfortunately, due to the absence of a screening program and decreased awareness, male breast cancer has been typically diagnosed later than in females. The initial assessment of the male patient referred to the rapid access breast clinic should follow very similar processes as a female patient. Following confirmation of the diagnosis (in the multidisciplinary setting), tumor biomarkers such as estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Her-2 neu receptors are also evaluated. Standardized TNM staging is the same as for female breast cancers and is used to classify tumors into either early breast cancers, locally advanced, or metastatic cancers. The text also presents the management of early-stage breast cancer, including surgical approaches and adjuvant therapies, and finally the management of advanced breast cancer, including systemic therapy and palliative care.
