The experience of a sample of Canadian men with breast cancer

Abstract

10549 Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among North American women, accounting for about 30% of all new cases each year. Although male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all breast cancer cases, recent reports indicate significantly increasing incidence. Research suggests that men diagnosed with breast cancer experience serious psychologic issues including feeling less masculine by having a woman’s disease, feeling isolated with a rare malignancy and feeling uncomfortable seeking or receiving support. Men may also experience post-surgical effects including changed appearance of the male chest and decreased arm strength. There have been numerous large-scale studies examining womens’ experiences with breast cancer. To date, there have been no North American studies examining what a man experiences with a breast cancer diagnosis. The objective of this qualitative study was to determine the experiences of a sample of Canadian men diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: After ethics approval, an invitation letter and consent form were mailed to those individuals listed as “male”, “breast cancer”, and “alive”, in the Alberta Cancer Registry. 20 men responded indicating their interest. After written consent, audiotaped interviews were conducted. As little is known about a man’s experience with breast cancer, an exploratory qualitative methodology was utilized. Results: We found a great variability among the participants with respect to whom they disclosed their diagnosis, how they viewed their masculinity after a breast cancer diagnosis and their views on life after a cancer experience. All participants stated that there was a major lack of awareness about male breast cancer, both in the public and health professional domain. All participants identified a lack of written information specific for men with breast cancer. All participants denied interest in traditional “support” groups, but would have welcomed the opportunity to speak with a man who had gone through similar diagnosis and treatment. Conclusions: Needs identified by the respondents include increased medical and public awareness of male breast cancer as well as specific written information. Further research is necessary to identify supports and resources helpful for male patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.