Research article
Risk of second primary cancer in men with breast cancer
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* Corresponding author: Hoda Anton-Culver hantoncu@uci.edu
Epidemiology Division, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Breast Cancer Research 2007, 9:R10 doi:10.1186/bcr1643
Published: 25 January 2007Abstract
Introduction
A retrospective registry-based cohort study was conducted to examine the risk of second primary cancer following the occurrence of breast cancer in males.
Methods
Data obtained from the California Cancer Registry in the period 1988 to 2003 included 1,926 men aged 85 years and younger diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer. Person-year analysis was applied to determine the risk of second primary cancers after the occurrence of a first primary breast cancer. The effects of age, race, and time since the first breast cancer diagnosis were assessed.
Results
Of the 1,926 male breast cancer cases, 221 (11.5%) developed a second primary cancer. Men with first incidence of breast cancer have a significantly higher risk of second cancer (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–1.32). The risk of a second site-specific cancer is elevated for breast cancer (SIR = 52.12, 95% CI = 31.83–80.49), cutaneous melanoma (SIR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.63–5.00) and stomach cancer (SIR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.01–3.88). There is a general tendency towards higher risks of second malignancies among younger men compared to older men and the risk increased with the passage of time.
Conclusion
Male breast cancer patients should be monitored carefully for the occurrence of second primary cancers, especially a second primary breast cancer.