Treatment of male breast cancer

From Mar. 1958 through 1985, 50 male patients with breast cancer were treated in our hospital. The ratio of male and female with primary breast cancer was 1:90 during the same period. All were proven by pathology except one case. Forty seven have been followed for more than 5 years. There were 12 stage I lesions, 19 stage II and 16 stage III. Radical mastectomy was performed in 22 patients, total mastectomy in 11 and lobectomy in 12, supplemented by radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or their combination. Two were not indicated for surgery and were only given a combination combination therapy without operation. The irradiation after radical mastectomy was to deliver to the regional lymph nodes and for the rest, a dose of 5,000-6,000 cGy/5-6 weeks should be added to the chest wall. The chemotherapy, including Thio-TEPA, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide and methotrexate etc, in the form of single or multi-drug for 1-3 courses, was given. The overall 5 and 10 year survival rates were 51% and 22.5%. The 5 year survival rates of stage I, II and III patients were 83%, 53% and 25%. The 5 year survivals of radical mastectomy, total mastectomy and lobectomy combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy were 59%, 27% and 67%. In those who failed, 50% developed local recurrence or regional metastasis or both and 60% had extensive dissemination. The results indicate that the combination therapy comprising radical mastectomy and lobectomy has a good prognosis. The authors believe that the male breast cancer is more hormone-dependent than the female breast cancer, orchiectomy plays an important role in the treatment of advanced lesions.