Breast cancer in male veterans: A retrospective chart review.

Abstract

e12531 Background: Male breast cancer (BCA) is rare and makes up < 1% of all of breast cancer cases. Treatment is mainly based on what is known from female BCA and survival is similar between genders. Objectives: To investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics of BCA and overall survival in male veterans. Methods: Medical records of male patients diagnosed with breast cancer at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers of Washington DC, Baltimore and Martinsburg from 1992-2012 were reviewed after Institutional Review Board approval. Results: From 1995-2012, 51 male patients with BCA were identified from cancer registry. 29/51(57%) were African American (AA), 41% Caucasian (WM), and 2% other race. Median age was 70 years (44-86years). Palpable mass was presenting symptom in 41/51(80%) and 8(16%) had gynecomastia or bloody nipple discharge. Family history of breast cancer was positive in 11 patients without mention of BRCA genes except pt #24 who was BRCA2+. 3 patients were exposed to Agent Orange. ER/PR was positive in 36(71%), ER+/PR- in 1(2%), ER+/PR+/HER2+ in 2(4%), ER-/PR-/HER- in 2(4%). 41% & 57% had right and left BCA, respectively. 40 (80%) underwent mastectomy. 18(36%) had lymph node involvement (1-13 LN). 90% had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), 8% DCIS, and 2% sarcoma. Cancer in 26% was stage I, 38% stage II, 18% stage III and 8% stage IV. 12(24%) received combination chemotherapy. 33(66%) were given tamoxifen. 4(8%) patients had relapsed/recurrent disease in 1-5 years of their diagnosis and died within 2-12 years after the relapse. At median follow up of 174m (4m-19years), 28(56%) patients died (cause of death not known in all), 21(42%) alive and 3(6%) lost to follow up. Conclusions: Median age at diagnosis of BCA seems to be higher in males (70 years) as compared to historical female age (60 years). IDC is the main pathology and 73% tumors were ER +. Survival rate is approximately 40% at >10years of follow up. Survival by stage revealed no difference.