title: Obesity and male breast cancer: provocative parallels?
abstract: While rare compared to female breast cancer the incidence of male breast cancer (MBC) has increased in the last few decades. Without comprehensive epidemiological studies, the explanation for the increased incidence of MBC can only be speculated. Nevertheless, one of the most worrying global public health issues is the exponential rise in the number of overweight and obese people, especially in the developed world. Although obesity is not considered an established risk factor for MBC, studies have shown increased incidence among obese individuals. With this observation in mind, this article highlights the correlation between the increased incidence of MBC and the current trends in obesity as a growing problem in the 21(st) century, including how this may impact treatment. With MBC becoming more prominent we put forward the notion that, not only is obesity a risk factor for MBC, but that increasing obesity trends are a contributing factor to its increased incidence.
authors.affiliation: Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK. m.humphries@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Humphries
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Medical Oncology and Molecular and Cellular Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. vcjordan@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: V Craig
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK. v.speirs@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Speirs
mesh_terms: D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors