EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF BREAST CANCER IN MEN IN THE STATE OF TOCANTINS FROM 2020 TO 2024

Abstract

Abstract: Male breast cancer is a rare neoplasm, accounting for approximately 1% of breast cancer cases, and is frequently diagnosed at advanced stages. This study aimed to define the epidemiological profile of male breast cancer in the state of Tocantins between 2020 and 2024. This is an observational, descriptive, quantitative, and retrospective study, conducted using secondary data obtained from the Oncology Panel (DATASUS), the Cancer Information System (SISCAN), and the Mortality Atlas of the National Cancer Institute (INCA). Variables related to diagnosis, age group, clinical staging, therapeutic modality, time to treatment initiation, mortality, and diagnostic characteristics of the cases were analyzed. Eighteen cases of male breast cancer were identified in Tocantins between 2020 and 2023, with the highest frequency in the 70-74 age group (16.7%). Among the cases with available staging, stage III predominated (33.3%). Surgery was the most frequently recorded therapeutic modality (38.9%), and 44.4% of patients started treatment within 30 days of diagnosis. Between 2020 and 2024, 10 deaths were recorded, with the highest concentration among individuals aged 70 to 79 years (30.0%). Complementary data from SISCAN showed a predominance of palpable lesions (70.0%) and frequent use of core needle biopsy (55.0%). It is concluded that the epidemiological profile of male breast cancer in Tocantins is characterized by the low frequency of the disease, predominance in elderly individuals, and a tendency towards diagnosis at more advanced stages, presenting characteristics similar to those described in the national and international literature.