Health education for the detection of breast cancer in men

Abstract

Introduction: Male breast cancer is an overlooked disease due to its association with females. However, over the past 10 years, there have been a total of 7,031 cases of breast cancer in men. Objective: Collect epidemiological data on breast cancer in men in Brazil, in order to raise awareness among the population and highlight the need for screening measures for early detection in primary care. Method: The study is an exploratory, cross-sectional descriptive study, using data collected in the DATASUS TABNET application between the years 2013 and 2023. Results: The results revealed that the Southeast region presented the highest number of cases (3,007), with the 65-69 age group most affected. This highlights the lack of screening and early diagnosis, as the majority of cases are diagnosed in advanced stages. An increase in diagnoses of the disease has been observed since 2018, with an increasing pattern in the last 5 years. However, there were discrepancies between the DATASUS data and the information found in the literature regarding the treatment. Conclusion: Therefore, the male public must be included in awareness campaigns, enabling the reduction of mortality and underreporting rates of the disease, allowing for early diagnosis and a better prognosis.