Characteristics and Treatment of Breast Cancer in Men: A 12-year Single-Institution Review

Abstract

Background: Male breast cancer has a low incidence, hence there are few studies evaluating the disease, and no recent studies from Kenya. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and pathological characteristics, and treatment of men diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study, carried out at a tertiary hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, of men diagnosed with breast cancer between January 2009 and December 2021. Data on the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and outcome were collected. Standard descriptive statistics were used to describe the patient characteristics. Results: Seventeen male patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, representing 1.40% of all breast cancer patients. Four patients were excluded due to incomplete records. The median age at diagnosis was 68 years (range 28–83). The majority were African Bantu (n=11, 84.6%). Most patients presented with clinical T1 (n=10, 76.9%) and N0 (n=8, 61.5%) disease. Luminal A molecular subtype was the most common (n=8, 61.5%). All 11 patients who underwent operative management underwent modified radical mastectomy. Conclusion: The rate of male breast cancer was similar to the global rate. The majority of our patients presented with early breast cancer and estrogen receptor-positive disease. Treatment was primarily modified radical mastectomy followed by adjuvant systemic therapy.