Psychological Aspects of Carcinoma of the Breast in the Male—Two Case Reports

Abstract

Whilst there have been a number of reports about the psychological features of women who develop carcinoma of the breast, there have been no such studies of men. This paper details two reports of men with this unusual condition. In both cases, this illness in the male followed a similar condition which occurred in the breast on the same side in a woman with whom each had an intense relationship. That this could be considered a more than coincidental event is explored. The role of identification with a significant other in determining site and type of illness is discussed, as is a hypothetical mechanism whereby such identification could facilitate the development of the cancers in these cases.