# Male breast cancer trends in Central America > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/male-breast-cancer-trends-in-central-america > Updated: 2026-10-19T23:03:12.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Health reports from Panama and Costa Rica highlight the prevalence and diagnostic challenges of male breast cancer in Central America. In Panama, the National Oncology Institute reported 64 cases between 2021 and the first quarter of 2026. Oncologist Roberto García noted that while less frequent than in women, the disease often presents a “more aggressive clinical evolution in men.” Due to a lack of routine screening methods like mammography for males, health officials are urging self-examination and medical consultation for early detection. In Costa Rica, government statistics indicated 70 male breast cancer deaths between 2021 and 2025. Although these deaths represent a small fraction of total breast cancer mortality in the country, medical experts warn of dangerous delays in diagnosis. Professor Yader Sandoval and Dr. Marnie Ramos noted that men are frequently diagnosed in later stages (2 through 4) compared to women, often due to social stigma and the misconception that the disease is exclusively female. Experts emphasize that while prognosis depends on the stage at detection, treatment methods remain similar to those used for women. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-19: Costa Rica reports 70 male breast cancer deaths over five years Seventy men died from breast cancer in Costa Rica over five years, with experts warning that social stigmas regarding the disease lead to late-stage diagnoses in male patients. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/costa-rica-reports-70-male-breast-cancer-deaths-over-five-years ### 2026-10-05: Panama reports 64 cases of male breast cancer since 2021 Panama's National Oncology Institute recorded 64 cases of male breast cancer from 2021 to early 2026, prompting health officials to urge men over 50 to perform self-exams for early detection. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panama-reports-64-cases-of-male-breast-cancer-since-2021 --- Cite as: Male breast cancer trends in Central America. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/male-breast-cancer-trends-in-central-america