Objective To analyze the incidence and mortality of male breast cancer in Hubei Province from 2012 to 2015.

Methods The data reported by the Hubei Provincial Cancer Registry from 2012 to 2015 were collected for analyzing the incidence and mortality trends of male breast cancer according to year, urban and rural areas and age. We also compared the difference of incidence and mortality between male and female breast cancer.

Results A total of 106 new cases of male breast cancer were reported in Hubei Cancer Registry from 2012 to 2015 with an incidence rate of 0.43/10⁵, and 10052 new cases of female breast cancer with an incidence rate of 42.76/10⁵; the male-to-female incidence ratio was 1:99. Male breast cancer death cases was 37 with the death rate of 0.15/10⁵, and female breast cancer death cases was 2201 with the death rate of 9.36/10⁵; the male-to-female mortality ratio was 1:62. The incidence and mortality of breast cancer between male and female varied by year, urban and rural areas. Male breast cancer was less common in young men (< 35 years old), and the incidence increased with age after 35 years old; male breast cancer deaths were rare in men under 45 years old, and the mortality rate increased with age. The incidence and mortality of male breast cancer patients over 85 years old reached the peak.

Conclusion Male breast cancer is rare in clinical practice, and the incidence rate is much lower than that of female breast cancer. Even so, it is necessary to study the epidemiological law of male breast cancers' incidence and mortality, which can be used for prevention and treatment of male breast cancer.