Male breast cancer, though rare, is a condition that the Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) continues to address. According to Dr. Noé Castro, an oncologist at IGSS, men can also develop breast cancer, but its occurrence is low.
“Less than 1% of the cases we attend are male patients, but in most cases it is detected in advanced stages,” said Castro.
Data from the Actuarial and Statistical Department of IGSS show that in 2024, the institution treated 3,250 patients with breast cancer, including 11 men. In 2025 so far, there have been 3,196 patients registered with nine being male. While these numbers are small, most cases among men are diagnosed late and often linked to direct hereditary factors.
One challenge remains public perception that breast cancer only affects women. “Shame and lack of information delay consultation. Even some doctors without oncology training do not consider it within their differential diagnoses,” Castro added.
To address this issue, IGSS holds preventive conferences across its medical units where oncology specialists inform affiliates and beneficiaries about prevention and early care.
Breast cancer in men is uncommon but requires attention due to late diagnosis and hereditary risk factors.
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