Long-term survival in male breast cancer.

A total of 42 male breast cancer patients (mean and median age 66 years), were followed up for over 25 years or until death. In 24/42 patients (57%) radical surgery and radiotherapy was carried out, surgery alone in 11 patients (26%), and radiotherapy alone in 3 patients (7%). Of the patients 23 died of mammary cancer, 74% of them in five years after primary treatment; 9% of the patients survived 10 years and 7% for 20 years. If only deaths related to breast cancer were included, the 20-year survival was 45%.