Management of male breast cancer

Male breast cancer afflicts about 900 men a year in the U.S., of whom 300 die of their disease. General recommendations for treatment are similar to those for females: All patients with positive nodes and selected node-negative patients considered at high risk for recurrence are advised to have systemic therapy. Tamoxifen is often recommended because the majority of male breast cancers are estrogen and progesterone-receptor positive. No significant experience has been reported with primary radiation therapy to date.