Cancer

Home > Men's Health Home > Top Health Concerns of Men > Cancer

Skin Cancer
Lung Cancer
Colon Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Additional Resources

Cancer is a group of many diseases that begin in cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Most cancers are named for the part of the body where they start. Survival rates have improved for many types of cancers in recent years. But, you can lower your risk of cancer by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Screenings also can help find cancers early, when they are most treatable. The cancers listed here are among the most common or found only in men.

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Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer for all men and women. Anyone can get skin cancer, but some people are at greater risk. Some risk factors include having:

Family history of skin cancer
Many or large moles
Skin that burns easily

Despite these risks, sun exposure is the single most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers. Your best defense against skin cancer is to:

Limit time spent outdoors when the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense (10 am-4 pm) and seek shade when possible.
Don't use tanning beds and sunlamps, which also give off harmful UV rays.
Apply water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 and that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Reapply every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating. Use sunscreen on cloudy days too.
Wear protective clothing, such as wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeves, and sunglasses.
Check for changes in the way your skin normally looks or sores that won't heal. Skin cancer is very treatable when found early.

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Lung Cancer

The leading cause of cancer death for both men and women is lung cancer. And cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Lung cancer is a killer and survival rates are poor. In fact, about six in 10 people with lung cancer die within one year of finding out they have it. The risk factors for lung cancer include:

Smoking and being around others who smoke
Things around us at home or work (such as radon gas)
A family history of lung cancer

Take these steps to prevent lung cancer:

Don't smoke. The risk of dying from lung cancer is 23 times higher for men who smoke than for people who have never smoked.
Avoid secondhand smoke.
Make sure your home and workplace are radon free.

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Colon Cancer

Cancer of the colon or rectum is also called colorectal cancer. It is the fourth most common cancer in men. Research has shown that having certain risk factors increases your chance of developing colon cancer. Some of these risk factors include:

Age—More than 9 in 10 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are older than 50.
Polyps—growths on the inner wall of the colon or rectum that may become cancer. Finding and removing polyps may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Family history—Your risk is greater if you have a parent, sibling, or child with a history of colorectal cancer. Also, some people inherit a defective gene that leads to colorectal cancer.
Personal history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis or Chron's disease

Risk factors you can control also have been linked to colon cancer. Making the following lifestyle changes may help you prevent colorectal cancer, and lead to a healthier life:

Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Limit red meat and saturated fat.
Quit smoking.
Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week.
Limit alcohol or don't drink.
Maintain a healthy weight.

Screening for colorectal cancer is a very important. Some polyps can be found and removed before they have a chance to become cancer. Also, colorectal cancer is highly treatable if found early.

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Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells develop in one or both testicles. The testicles are the male reproductive organs. They make and store sperm cells and are the main source of the hormone testosterone in men. Testicular cancer is rare overall, but it is the most common cancer in men aged 15-35. It is also one of the most curable forms of cancer.

Some risk factors for testicular cancer include:

Being white
Having an undescended testicle—a testicle that did not drop from inside the abdomen into the scrotum before birth
Having a brother or father who had the testicular cancer

Checking your testicles regularly is a good way to detect lumps or swelling that could be cancer. Your doctor can also check your testicles during your routine checkups. If you have young sons, it is wise to have undescended testicles corrected. Some experts think that surgery done before puberty might lower the risk of developing some types of tumors.

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Additional Resources

Publications

Testicular Cancer: Questions and Answers - This fact sheet provides information about the treatment, detection, risk factors and prevention of testicular cancer. It includes instructions for performing a testicular self-examination.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/testicular
What You Need To Know About™ Cancer of the Colon and Rectum - This booklet provides information on the symptoms, detection, diagnosis, possible causes, and treatment of cancer of the colon and rectum. Having this important information can make it easier for patients and their families to handle the challenges they face.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/colon-and-rectum
What You Need To Know About™ Lung Cancer - The diagnosis of lung cancer brings with it many questions and a need for clear, understandable answers. This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet provides information about some causes and ways to prevent lung cancer, and it describes the symptoms, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/lung
What You Need To Know About™ Prostate Cancer - This booklet on prostate cancer discusses symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, emotional issues, and questions to ask the doctor. It also includes a glossary of terms and other resources.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/prostate
What You Need To Know About™ Skin Cancer - This booklet on skin cancer discusses symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, emotional issues, and questions to ask the doctor. It also includes a glossary of terms and other resources.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/skin
Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Worksheet for Men (Copyright © American Cancer Society) - This worksheet is a helpful aid to educate men on the most common types of cancer that affect them. It provides a checklist on the risk factors, preventative behaviors, and how to detect cancers early.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_4_1x_Cancer_Prevention_Worksheet_for_Men_pdf.asp...
Prostate Cancer and Bone Loss (Copyright © The Hormone Foundation) - This is an easy-to-read fact sheet about prostate cancer and bone loss. The Hormone Foundation offers information regarding screening and treatment of prostate cancer, as well as tips for preventing bone loss. Additional resources are provided for further information.
http://www.hormone.org/Resources/Prostate/upload/bilingual_prostatecancer_boneloss.pdf...
Prostate Cancer Treatment Options (Copyright © AAFP) - This on-line publication provides information about the different treatments for prostate cancer, including prostatectomy, radiation therapy, watchful waiting, and hormone therapy. It also includes the risks and benefits of each.
http://www.familydoctor.org/handouts/264.html

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

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