BACKGROUND Cancer of the male breast is a rare malignancy comprising less than 1% of all male cancers. The traditional surgical management for male breast cancer is modified radical mastectomy. Other surgical methods such as breast conserving surgery with or without sentinel lymph node biopsy have been used with variable results. CASE REPORT A 35-year old male presented with a 2×2 cm right breast adenocarcinoma. Modified radical mastectomy for male breast cancer as the traditional surgical operation for this rare malignancy is illustrated with special emphasis on oncologic sound resection. CONCLUSIONS Modified radical mastectomy is the corner stone surgical treatment for male breast cancer even though the breast tissue rudimentary. The recurrence of male breast cancer is less with mastectomy than breast conserving surgery.