Management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment: a case report
Abstract Male breast cancer is extremely uncommon, accounting for less than 1% of all male cancers and about 0.1% of male cancer deaths. It tends to occur in an older age group (60–70 s) when compared to women (50–60 s). Male breast cancer does not usually present with large tumor size; normally, it...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01685-7 |
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| author | Alex Mremi Glory Makupa Munguatosha Ngowi Subira Matiku Gad Murenzi Atiyya Hussein Theresia Mwakyembe Edwin A. Liwa |
| author_facet | Alex Mremi Glory Makupa Munguatosha Ngowi Subira Matiku Gad Murenzi Atiyya Hussein Theresia Mwakyembe Edwin A. Liwa |
| author_sort | Alex Mremi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Male breast cancer is extremely uncommon, accounting for less than 1% of all male cancers and about 0.1% of male cancer deaths. It tends to occur in an older age group (60–70 s) when compared to women (50–60 s). Male breast cancer does not usually present with large tumor size; normally, it presents with advanced stage due to less breast tissue compared to women. However, when it is left untreated for a long time, it can attain a big size. Studies have reported that some patients with breast cancer may refuse cancer treatment. Our report describes a case of breast cancer in a male patient from Tanzania who refused oncological care. A 74-year-old male came to our facility because of a left breast mass after more than 12 months. On examination, his vital signs were within normal limits. He had an ulcerated left breast mass measuring 24 × 24 cm that was noted to occupy the entire breast. Biopsy results from the lesion confirmed it to be infiltrating ductal carcinoma, of no special type, grade II. Surprisingly, the patient refused to undergo all forms of oncological treatment and opted to go for traditional medicines. The patient was kept on palliative care for controlling symptoms and improving quality of life. To date, 12 months of follow-up, the patient is still alive, although his condition has remarkably deteriorated. Respecting patients’ wishes is always a top priority, but physicians may provide more substantial reasoning to convince patients to undergo the indicated treatments by knowing the effect of dismissing operative treatment on their eventual survival. In addition, understanding why patients refuse treatment is important to effectively address their concerns. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9ebe8fc0b46c45108b977fcc52d269bf |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-9ebe8fc0b46c45108b977fcc52d269bf2025-08-20T02:15:11ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2025-02-012411610.1186/s12904-025-01685-7Management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment: a case reportAlex Mremi0Glory Makupa1Munguatosha Ngowi2Subira Matiku3Gad Murenzi4Atiyya Hussein5Theresia Mwakyembe6Edwin A. Liwa7Department of Pathology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical CentreFaculty of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeFaculty of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeDepartment of Pathology, Catholic University of Health and Allied SciencesResearch for DevelopmentFaculty of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeFaculty of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeDepartment of Pathology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical CentreAbstract Male breast cancer is extremely uncommon, accounting for less than 1% of all male cancers and about 0.1% of male cancer deaths. It tends to occur in an older age group (60–70 s) when compared to women (50–60 s). Male breast cancer does not usually present with large tumor size; normally, it presents with advanced stage due to less breast tissue compared to women. However, when it is left untreated for a long time, it can attain a big size. Studies have reported that some patients with breast cancer may refuse cancer treatment. Our report describes a case of breast cancer in a male patient from Tanzania who refused oncological care. A 74-year-old male came to our facility because of a left breast mass after more than 12 months. On examination, his vital signs were within normal limits. He had an ulcerated left breast mass measuring 24 × 24 cm that was noted to occupy the entire breast. Biopsy results from the lesion confirmed it to be infiltrating ductal carcinoma, of no special type, grade II. Surprisingly, the patient refused to undergo all forms of oncological treatment and opted to go for traditional medicines. The patient was kept on palliative care for controlling symptoms and improving quality of life. To date, 12 months of follow-up, the patient is still alive, although his condition has remarkably deteriorated. Respecting patients’ wishes is always a top priority, but physicians may provide more substantial reasoning to convince patients to undergo the indicated treatments by knowing the effect of dismissing operative treatment on their eventual survival. In addition, understanding why patients refuse treatment is important to effectively address their concerns.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01685-7Male breast cancerTreatment refusalPalliative careCase report |
| spellingShingle | Alex Mremi Glory Makupa Munguatosha Ngowi Subira Matiku Gad Murenzi Atiyya Hussein Theresia Mwakyembe Edwin A. Liwa Management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment: a case report BMC Palliative Care Male breast cancer Treatment refusal Palliative care Case report |
| title | Management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment: a case report |
| title_full | Management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment: a case report |
| title_fullStr | Management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment: a case report |
| title_short | Management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment: a case report |
| title_sort | management challenges of invasive breast carcinoma in a male patient who refused treatment a case report |
| topic | Male breast cancer Treatment refusal Palliative care Case report |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01685-7 |
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