Propecia Linked to Male Breast Cancer?

There was some reference in the 7-year Proscar study to a statistically significant increase in male breast cancer among the participants taking 5mg of Proscar daily.

Any thoughts or perhaps you have seen further research?

By the way, your visit from Jimmy and Adam on the “Man Show” was hysterical. You handled those guys with style. Well done!

Thanks for your comments on the Man Show. I fully enjoyed doing this as well as many other similar programs.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 349:1569-1572 October 16, 2003 Number 16, Prevention of Prostate Cancer with Finasteride) there was only one case of male breast cancer in this study group of almost 19,000 men (see CNN article: Baldness drug may reduce prostate cancer risk).

Gynecomastia (breast nodules in men) is more common and is often painful when it occurs, but this is not cancer. There is no evidence that cancer is a risk, but if there is a history of breast cancer in your family, I might consider finding out if the gene for breast cancer susceptibility (BRCA1 on chromosome 17 and BRCA2 on chromosome 13) is carried in you (see Do We Know What Causes Breast Cancer in Men?). If you carry the gene, then you might avoid Propecia. The good news is that you can test for BRCA1.