ATLANTA — About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.
But many don’t realize men can be diagnosed as well and they may be facing delays in treatment, even as survival rates improve..
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New research finds a significant drop in the share of men with breast cancer who begin treatment within a month of being diagnosed.
Back in 2004, 76% of men began treatment within 30 days of diagnosis. But by 2022, that number dropped to just 36%.
“Male breast cancer is a rare cancer. There’s about 2,600 cases a year, about 500 or so deaths,” said Dr. William Dahut with the American Cancer Society.
Nearly 2 out of every 3 men with breast cancer did not begin treatment within the first 30 days. And not all men are facing the same odds.
Men without health insurance were less likely to be diagnosed early, more likely to face treatment delays and had worse survival outcomes.
“One of the greatest barriers we do see overall in cancer treatment is lack of coverage,” Dahut said.
Black and Hispanic men, along with those living in higher-poverty communities, also faced greater disparities in diagnosis and survival.
“And then sadly, we still have biases, you know in our system where we do see, you know, healthcare providers assume a patient may want to take a particular treatment option or a lack of a treatment option, you know, and based on where they look or where they live,” Dahut said.
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But there is some encouraging news. Five-year survival rates increased from about 75% to nearly 78%. And over the two decades, 3 out of 4 men were diagnosed before their cancer reached an advanced stage.
“And over the last 20 or 30 years, we’ve had several new therapies which are improved outcomes in breast cancers. The fact that we are seeing more men alive at five years, really shows the power, I think, of cancer research,” Dahut said.
Researchers say the findings highlight the need to improve access to early diagnosis and treatment for men with breast cancer.
“We ultimately we do need to ensure that everyone has the same outcomes, regardless of their SES, the way they look or their type of insurance they have,” Dahut said.
Because men are not regularly screened for breast cancer, doctors say it’s important to watch for any changes in your body. If you see something unusual, make an appointment with your doctor.
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