The management of male breast cancer in Nigerians

The outcome in 57 male patients with breast cancer has been analysed. Four patients with early disease had simple mastectomy (one case) and radical mastectomy (three cases). All four completed a 12-cycle cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil (CMF) course of chemotherapy. Two required orchiectomy after 23 and 38 months, respectively. Two patients were alive at 79 and 63 months. Fifty-three others with advanced disease had simple mastectomy (10 cases), radical mastectomy (38 cases) and no surgery (five cases), but only 33 completed chemotherapy and 11 were submitted to orchiectomy for recurrence after a mean interval of 19 months. Two patients were alive at 63 and 69 months, respectively. The overall survival rate was 7%. It is considered that in addition to late presentation (mean (SEM): 16.4 (2.1)) months and advanced disease (93%), ineffectiveness of the CMF regimen in male patients may have contributed to the poor survival rate in these Nigerian patients.