title: Comparison of male and female breast cancer incidence and mortality trends in Central Serbia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To compare breast cancer incidence and mortality trends in Central Serbia between males and females in the period 1999-2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive study, mortality data were obtained from the National Statistics Institute and morbidity data were derived from Institute of Public Health of Serbia for the period of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breast cancer is a leading cancer in the female population of Central Serbia, whereas in male population it is not on the list of 10 leading localizations, concerning both incidence as well as mortality. In the period 1999-2009 the average standardized incidence rates of breast cancer were 60.5/100,000 in women and 1.4/100,000 in men, while average standardized mortality rates were 20.4/100,000 and 0.4/100,000. The average standardized incidence and mortality rates were about 45 times higher in females than males. Male breast cancer comprises approximately 2.1% of all breast cancer cases. The average age-specific mortality and incidence rates increased with age in both sexes. In the observed period standardized mortality rates of breast cancer increased significantly only in men (y=0.320+0.021?, p=0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase of breast cancer incidence in both sexes and mortality in men, indicate an urgent need for Serbian health professionals to apply existing cancer control and preventive measures. Male breast cancer is more present than in other world regions, with an outstanding increase of mortality, which demands a timely identification (screening) and adequate treatment. A national policy including mammography should be considered in the light of the newest findings.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hospital Centre Bezanijska Kosa, Belgrade, Serbia E-mail : ssipetic@yahoo.com, sandra.grujicic@mfub.bg.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sipetic-Grujicic
authors.forename: Zafir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Murtezani
authors.forename: Isidora
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ratkov
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grgurevic
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marinkovic
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bjekic
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miljus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology