Cancer In Men

Whilst cancer in men is commonly regarded predominantly as an age related condition, it can occur at any age. According to 2004 NIH statistics, cancer accounts for over 42% of male mortality over age 65.

The most common cancers suffered by men are:

Prostate cancer
Lung Cancer
Colorectal cancer
This spot is shared according to race:
- Bladder Cancer - white men
- Cancer of Mouth and Throat - black men
- Stomach Cancer - Asian/Pacific Island men.

Source:United States Cancer Statistics

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is most common in men older than 50. You also may be at increased risk for prostate cancer if:

You are black.
Your father or brother has had prostate cancer.

Tests such as a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test or a digital rectal exam can help detect prostate cancer, but these tests also have risks. They sometimes have false positive results, which may lead to avoidable anxiety and unnecessary biopsies and treatment. It is not yet clear whether these tests save lives.

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Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. It metastasizes [spreads] very early to any organ of the body. Organs most likekly to developed secondary cancers are adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone.

Lung cancer in men is widely associated with smoking. A particularly invasive type of lung cancer is mesothelioma [ caused from working in asbestos environments].

NOTE: The lung is also a very common site for metastasis from tumors in other parts of the body. These cancer metastases are made up of the same type of cells as the original, or primary, tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads via the bloodstream to the lungs, it is metastatic prostate cancer in the lung and is not lung cancer.

Colo-Rectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine, the colon or rectum.

Whilst most colorectal cancers develop from polyps, they are also known to be heredity and associated with long standing ulcerative colitis. Removing colon polyps can prevent colorectal cancer.

Colon polyps and early cancer can have no symptoms, hence regular examination is important, using barium enema and colonoscopy. And suspicious findings are confirmed with biopsy. Surgery is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer.

Bladder Cancer

The wall of the bladder is lined with cells called transitional cells and squamous cells. Over 90 percent of bladder cancers begin in the transitional cells [transitional cell carcinoma].

Cancer can begin as a superficial tumor, then grow through the lining and into the muscular wall of the bladder. It is then known as invasive bladder cancer. From here it may also extend into the prostate and abdominal wall. Cancer that has spread in this fashion usually also invade the lymph nodes, from where it can spread [metastasize] throughout the body.

The cause of bladder cancer is not as well understood as many other cancers, other than age, smoking, sex, race are all factors.

Symptoms of bladder cancer include: Common symptoms of bladder cancer include:

Blood in the urine (making the urine slightly rusty to deep red),
Pain during urination, and
Frequent urination, or feeling the need to urinate without results.

These symptoms are also common to other illnesses so it pays to seek professional advice at any sign of the above.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer includes cancers of the lip, tongue, pharynx, and mouth. Most oral cancers occur in people older than 40 who use tobacco or alcohol. People who are in the sun a lot are at risk for cancer of the lip.

You can help prevent oral cancer by not smoking or abusing alcohol. If you are outdoors a lot, use a sun block on your lips.

If you chew or smoke tobacco or abuse alcohol, you may want your dentist to examine your mouth for signs of oral cancer during your regular dental checkup.

Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer, [gastric cancer] affects 24,000 people in the United States each year.

Stomach cancer can develop in any part of the stomach and can spread throughout the stomach and to other organs. It can spread along the stomach wall into the esophagus or small intestine and also extend through the stomach wall to nearby lymph nodes. Once stomach cancer enters the lymph nodes it can then spread to other organs such as the liver, pancreas, and colon and further metastasize to the lungs.