Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare but impactful condition, constituting approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases. Due to its rarity, MBC often goes undiagnosed until later stages, and affected individuals face significant psychological and social challenges compounded by public misconceptions and a lack of tailored support. This study explores the emotional, psychological, and social impacts of MBC through a survey of 47 diagnosed male patients using validated assessment tools (HADS, IES-R, FACT-B, Distress Thermometer, SSQ6). Results indicate initial emotional responses of shock and fear, with persistent concerns about recurrence, self-image, and intimacy. Despite strong familial support reported by over 90% of participants, 46.8% experienced body image disturbances, and 40.4% noted stigma due to the gendered perception of the disease. A lack of disease-specific information was reported by 42.6% of respondents, while only 30% expressed a need for psychological support, suggesting potential underrecognition of mental health needs. These findings underscore the necessity for increased public awareness, education, and the development of gender-sensitive psychological and support services to address the unique needs of men with breast cancer.
Cite this paper
Kabala, Z. , Jay, S. E. , Belhouari, M. , Bourhafour, M. , Chekrine, T. , Bouchbika, Z. , Benchakroun, N. , Jouhadi, H. , Tawfiq, N. and Sahraoui, S. (2025). The Psychological and Social Impact of the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in Men: Experience of the Oncology Department of CHU Ibn Rochd. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e3578. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113578.
France, L., Michie, S., Barrett-Lee, P., Brain, K., Harper, P. and Gray, J. (2000) Male Cancer: A Qualitative Study of Male Breast Cancer. The Breast, 9, 343-348. https://doi.org/10.1054/brst.2000.0173
Herring, B., Lewis-Smith, H., Par-askeva, N. and Harcourt, D. (2022) Exploring the Experiences and Psychosocial Support Needs of Informal Carers of Men with Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study. Supportive Care in Cancer, 30, 6669-6676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07095-2
Raeisi Dehkordi, S., Kennedy, S.K.F., Peera, M., Wong, H.C.Y., Lee, S.F., Alkhaifi, M., et al. (2024) Examining Stigma in Experiences of Male Breast Cancer Patients and Its Impact as a Barrier to Care: A Narrative Review. Annals of Palliative Medicine, 13, 1291-1300. https://doi.org/10.21037/apm-24-67
Constantinou, N., Marshall, C. and Marshall, H. (2023) Discussion and Opti-mization of the Male Breast Cancer Patient Experience. Journal of Breast Imaging, 5, 339-345.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38416881/
Bootsma, T.I., Duijveman, P., Pijpe, A., Scheelings, P.C., Witkamp, A.J. and Bleiker, E.M.A. (2020) Unmet Information Needs of Men with Breast Cancer and Health Profession-als. Psycho-Oncology, 29, 851-860. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5356
McBride, C.M., Clipp, E., et al. (2025) Psy-chological Impact of Diagnosis and Risk Reduction among Cancer Survivors. Psychooncology, 9, 418-427.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11038480/
Fentiman, I.S. (2018) Surgical Options for Male Breast Can-cer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 172, 539-544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-018-4952-2
Korde, L.A., Zujewski, J.A., Kamin, L., Giordano, S., Domchek, S., Anderson, W.F., et al. (2010) Multidisciplinary Meeting on Male Breast Cancer: Summary and Research Recommendations. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 28, 2114-2122. https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2009.25.5729
Rutherford, C.L., Goodman, D. and Lannigan, A. (2022) A Systematic Literature Review of the Management, Oncological Outcomes and Psychosocial Implications of Male Breast Cancer. European Journal of Surgical Oncology, 48, 2104-2111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejso.2022.06.004
Catania, A.M., Sammut Scerri, C. and Catania, G.J. (2019) Men’s Experience of Their Partners’ Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Surgery and Oncological Treatment. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28, 1899-1910. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14800
Abboah-Offei, M., Bayuo, J., et al. (2024) Experiences and Perceptions of Men Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis: A Mixed Method Systematic Review. BMC Cancer, 24, Article No. 179. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38317128/
Hass, H.G., Herzberger, A., Wöckel, A. and Stepien, J. (2022) Male Breast Cancer: Therapy-Induced Toxicities, Psychological Distress, and Individual Patient Goals during Oncological Inpatient Rehabilitation. Oncology Research and Treatment, 45, 736-743. https://doi.org/10.1159/000526704
Pituskin, E., Williams, B., et al. (2007) Experiences of Men with Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study. The Journal of Men s Health and Gender, 4, 44-51.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239301973_Experiences
_of_men_with_breast_cancer_a_qualitative_study
de Blok, C.J.M., Wiepjes, C.M., Nota, N.M., van Engelen, K., Adank, M.A., Dreijerink, K.M.A., et al. (2019) Breast Cancer Risk in Transgender People Receiving Hormone Treatment: Nationwide Cohort Study in the Netherlands. British Medical Journal, 365, Article l1652. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1652
Andrykowski, M.A. (2011) Physical and Mental Health Status and Health Behaviors in Male Breast Cancer Survivors: A National, Population-Based, Case-Control Study. Psycho-Oncology, 21, 927-934. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.2001
Warren, E., Footman, K., Tinelli, M., McKee, M. and Knai, C. (2014) Do Cancer-Specific Websites Meet Patient's Information Needs? Patient Education and Counseling, 95, 126-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2013.12.013
Champion, V.L., Wagner, L.I., Monahan, P.O., Daggy, J., Smith, L., Cohee, A., et al. (2014) Comparison of Younger and Older Breast Cancer Survivors and Age-Matched Controls on Specific and Overall Quality of Life Domains. Cancer, 120, 2237-2246. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.28737
Farrell, E., Borstel-mann, N., Meyer, F., Partridge, A., Winer, E. and Ruddy, K. (2014) Male Breast Cancer Networking and Telephone Support Group: A Model for Supporting a Unique Population. Psycho-Oncology, 23, 956-958. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3519
Tischkowitz, M., Hodgson, S. and Fentiman, I. (2002) Male Breast Cancer: Aeti-ology, Genetics and Clinical Management. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 56, 750-754. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-1241.2002.tb11371.x
Marissa Fors LCSW and OSW-C (2020) Identifying the Needs of Men with Breast Cancer. https://www.oncnursingnews.com/view/identifying-the-needs-of-men-with-breast-cancer
