1 in 4 men with breast cancer reach hospital at advanced stage

Hyderabad: One in four male breast cancer patients in the city is diagnosed at stage IV — the most advanced stage — highlighting a worrying trend of late detection. A recent six-year study attributes this largely to ‘diagnostic inertia', where breast cancer in men is often overlooked in early stages.The study, conducted at ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Sanathnagar between 2019 and 2025, and published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (JAPI), analysed 15 male patients. Of these, 60% presented at stage III and 26.7% at stage IV, which shows nearly 87% had advanced cancer at their first consultation.Doctors observed an average six-month delay between symptom onset and diagnosis. Most patients reported a lump behind the nipple, often accompanied by nipple retraction or skin thickening. Two patients presented with ulcerated tumours, indicating severe progression due to delayed care."None of the patients had a family history or known risk factors like hormone exposure, radiation or occupational hazards. Breast cancer is rare in men, but symptoms are often ignored or misinterpreted," said Dr Gumdal Vishesh, head of the department, medical and hemato oncology at ESIC medical college. "Men with such symptoms should seek early evaluation, and those diagnosed must undergo genetic testing to detect inherited mutations."At follow-up in 2025, nine patients (60%) were alive with controlled disease. Five had completed treatment, two were on hormone therapy, and two with stage IV cancer had stable disease. However, two patients died due to disease progression, and four (26.7%) stopped coming for follow-up. "Despite free treatment at ESIC, long travel distances, lack of support, stigma and low awareness affect care-seeking behaviour," Dr Vishesh added.Though male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all cases, delayed detection severely impacts outcomes. Doctors also flagged the lack of male-specific guidelines. "There is an urgent need for awareness campaigns focused on men, as male breast cancer is often missing from public health messaging," said Dr Nivalika Rajamoni, Senior Oncologist, Yashoda Hospitals.Experts noted that Telangana's recent move to make cancer a notifiable disease will improve data collection, but called for national-level registries and tailored policy interventions.