Breast cancer in men: Group is exploring issues for men with breast cancer across the United Kingdom

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7420.930-d

BMJ 2003;327:930-931 (18 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7420.930-d

Letter

Breast cancer in men

Group is exploring issues for men with breast cancer across the United Kingdom

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—The editorial by Perkins and Middleton on breastcancer in men in the United States was heartening.¹ Breast cancerin men is rare,² but every year 200-300 men in the United Kingdomare newly diagnosed with it. Whereas the common nature of femalebreast cancer has resulted in good general awareness, male breastcancer is comparatively unknown, by both the general publicand healthcare professionals.³

The MATCH project (men's attitudes towards cancer and health)is exploring patient experiences, treatment and management practices,and information provision with men living with breast canceracross the United Kingdom. Data are collected through a mixedmethod approach including focus groups, postal questionnaires,and in depth interviews.

Although this study is ongoing, preliminary analysis of thedata shows that the literature received is written specificallyfor women. Participants think that sections in existing literatureshould incorporate information about male breast cancer, ratherthan . . . [Full text of this article]

Rachel Iredale, senior research fellow

Rachel.Iredale@CardiffandVale.wales.nhs.uk

Buddug Williams, MATCH project officer, Kate Brain, research psychologist, Elizabeth France, genetic counsellor

Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN