Some Observations on the Epidemiology of Breast Cancer Among Males

Abstract

Breast cancer mortality for both males and females is lowest in Finland and Japan. Cancer mortality rates in the United States are higher for non-white males in every age group than for white males except for the age group over 80. This differs from the mortality experience for breast cancer among females in the United States where the rates are higher for the white population, except for those under age 40. Hospital records were reviewed of 120 male patients with cancer of the breast who were treated in the 23 clinics throughout the United States. Of these patients 53 were interviewed and these findings were compared in males with gynecomastia and another group with cancer of the colon. Results suggested the interaction of several factors in some of the patients such as infection of the testicle, a family history of breast cancer among males, exposure to therapeutic x-ray of the chest and benign tumors of the breast preceding malignancy.