Research - clinical trials for breast cancer in men

Breast cancer in men is rare so it isn’t possible to run large trials to study the effects of treatments. But there can be many benefits in taking part in a treatment research trial. They help to improve knowledge about cancer and develop new treatments. You’ll also be carefully monitored during and after the study. It’s important to keep in mind that some treatments which look promising at first are often later found not to be as good as existing treatments, or to have side effects that outweigh the benefits.

If you decide not to take part in a trial your decision will be respected and you don’t have to give a reason. There will be no change in the way you are treated by the hospital staff and you will be offered the standard treatment for your situation.

The process is described in more detail in our section on clinical trials.|

Blood and tumour samples

Many blood and bone marrow or tumour samples may be taken to help make the right diagnosis. You may be asked for your permission to use some of your samples for research into cancer. If you are taking part in a trial you may also be asked to give other samples which may be frozen and stored for future use, when new research techniques become available.

These samples will have your name removed from them so you can’t be identified. The research may be carried out at the hospital where you are treated, or at another one. This type of research takes a long time and the results may not be available for many years. The samples will, however, be used to increase knowledge about the causes of cancer and its treatment. This research will hopefully improve the outlook for future patients.