According to Breastcancer.org, male cases represent less than 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses internationally. This proportion, far from diminishing its importance, makes it a highly vulnerable problem to underdiagnosis and delayed care. The low frequency of this disease has generated little social and medical awareness, which means that many patients arrive at health services when the cancer is already in advanced stages.
Clinical cases that reveal underdiagnosis, metastatic progression, and a devastating economic burden.
Although breast cancer has historically been associated with women, men can also develop it. The lack of public awareness leads many men to ignore the early signs and delay seeking medical attention.
Warning signs that should not be ignored
The main symptoms associated with breast cancer in men include: • Lumps or masses in the chest • Changes in the chest skin • Discharge from the nipple • Pain or retraction of the nipple
Since men have less breast tissue, these changes are usually easier to identify, but the lack of information leads them to be minimized or attributed to benign causes, delaying diagnosis.
Making it visible to change the course
The cases of Andrés Torres and José Luis Castillo Preciado evidenced that breast cancer in men is not only a clinical reality but also a social and economic challenge that requires greater visibility, early detection, and support networks. Learning their stories and supporting their fundraising campaigns, even with minimal contributions or sharing, is part of a community effort to not leave a disease that, although rare, can be devastating, in silence.
This note, as well as reports, exclusive interviews, videos, podcasts, and more, you will find in our next special digital edition of "Temas Selectos en Oncología".
