Did you know?

One in two Australian men will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85

More than 24,000 Australian men are expected to die of cancer this year

More than 62,000 new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Australian men this year.

The most common cancers causing death in men are: lung cancer, prostate cancer, bowel cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma. Unfortunately the list doesn’t stop there. There are many other cancers deaths that commonly affect men, have a high mortality and which are often preventable through lifestyle choices. These include cancers of the kidney, liver, head and neck, oesophagus and bladder.

Come on guys!

When it comes to making cancer-smart lifestyle choices, women do it better. The statistics speak for themselves: 

• Men are more likely to smoke: More than 21% of men compared to more than 17% of women are daily or current smokers. 
• Men are more likely to develop melanoma and other skin cancers: Men spend more time outdoors in peak UV periods on weekends than women, but are less likely to wear protective clothing and sunglasses, use sunscreen and seek shade. 
• Men eat less fruit and vegetables: 54% of men eat less than the recommended daily fruit intake (at least two serves a day) compared to 40% of women, and 88% of men eat less than the recommended vegetable intake (at least five serves a day) compared to 83% of women.
• Men are more likely to be overweight: 64% of men are overweight or obese compared to 42% of women.  
• Men are less likely to visit a doctor: Men visit their GP less than women and tend to leave significant issues unaddressed. 

  

Important lifestyle choices to reduce your cancer risk: 

• Quit smoking – lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Australian men. Call the Quitline on 13 QUIT (13 78 48) for free advice or visit StopSmoking.
• Be SunSmart – protect yourself in the sun and take care not to burn. For more information SunSmart. 
• Stay in shape – aim for a healthy body weight. For more information StayInShape. 
• Move your body – be physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days or every day. For more information MoveYourBody.
• Eat for health – choose a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and limit your intake of red meat. For more information EatForHealth. 
• Avoid alcohol – try alcohol-free days and non-alcoholic drinks. For more information Alcohol. 
• Have age-appropriate check-ups with your GP. 
• For more information about ways to reduce your cancer risk check out the Cancer Council fact sheet, Look after number one NumberOne_Men.

  

Detection: finding cancer early

By finding cancer early, you have a better chance of beating the disease. Look for:

• Lumps, sores or ulcers that don’t heal 
• Coughs that don’t go away or which show blood, or hoarseness that hangs around 
• A loss in weight that can’t be explained 
• Moles that have changed shape, size or colour, or bleed, or an inflamed skin sore that hasn’t healed 
• Blood in a bowel motion 
• Persistent changes in toilet habits 
• Urinary problems or changes.

These symptoms are often related to more common, less serious health problems. However, if you notice any unusual changes, or these symptoms persist, visit your doctor. 

  

Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is the second most common cancer in men, with one in ten men likely to be diagnosed by age 85. Almost 2500 Australian men will die of bowel cancer each year. 

Symptoms & Diagnosis 

Symptoms of bowel cancer include: 

• Change in bowel habit with diarrhoea, constipation or the feeling of incomplete emptying
• Thin bowel movements
• Blood in the motion or abdominal bloating or cramping.  

More general symptoms are: 

• Tiredness
• Weight loss
• Unexplained anaemia.

Causes

Risk factors for bowel cancer include: 

• Age
• Inherited genetic risk
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Obesity
• Lack of physical activity
• Smoking.

Prevention Tips 

You can reduce your risk of bowel cancer by: 

• Not smoking and avoid breathing other people’s cigarette smoke
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Being physically active
• A healthy diet with plenty fresh fruit and vegetables.   

Screening

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program offers testing to Australians turning 50, 55 or 65 years of age between January 2008 and December 2010. Abnormal tests are followed up with a colonoscopy. 

However, in a major national campaign, Cancer Council is currently advocating for screening to be extended to everyone over 50 (visit www.getbehindbowelscreening.com.au to learn more). All Australians over 50 should have the right to free screening for Australia’s second biggest cancer killer.   

Early detection of bowel cancer greatly improves chances of successful treatment. Your risk of bowel cancer increases with age. 

If you are 50 years of age or over, you should be tested for bowel cancer every two years. However, some people may have known risk factors which put them at increased risk. If you fall into this group your doctor will talk to you about regular check-ups.

For information about diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, visit Cancer Council’s fact sheet at here.

 

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can be grouped into two main types: non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. More men die of lung cancer in Australia than from any other type of cancer. 

Non-small cell (makes up around 80% of lung cancers)

This type affects the cells that line the tubes into the lungs (main bronchi) and smaller airways. 

Small cell (makes up around 20% of lung cancers)

Small cell lung cancer tends to start in the middle of the lungs and is usually found by the time the cancer has spread to the blood stream. 

Symptoms

• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain 
• Blood may be brought up when coughing
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite.

 Causes 

• Smoking makes up around 90% of lung cancer cases
• Occupational exposure to chemicals such as asbestos, radon, hydrocarbon
• Occurs most often in people over the age of 50
• Passive smoking can also cause lung cancer.

Men are almost twice as likely as women to die of lung cancer. Lung cancer in men is linked to smoking in nine out of ten cases (versus seven out of ten cases of lung cancer in women).

You can reduce your risk of lung cancer by: 

• Not smoking
• Avoiding breathing other people’s cigarette smoke
• Avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals that can be inhaled.  

For information about diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer visit:

Non-small cell lung cancer: http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/lungcancernonsmallcell.htm

Small cell lung cancer: http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/lungcancersmallcell.htm

 

Melanoma

Australia has the world’s highest incidence of melanoma, with more than 6000 cases diagnosed in men each year. Men are more than twice as likely as women to die of melanoma and other skin cancers.

Symptoms

• Moles that change in shape or colour
• Melanoma can be associated with ABCDE, which stands for Asymmetry, irregular Border, uneven Colour, Diameter (usually over 6mm) and Evolving (ie. changing and growing). 

Causes 

• Exposure to UV rays and often from sunburn
• Unusually shaped moles
• Depressed immune system
• Fair skin
• Family history 

You can reduce your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers when you:

• Minimise sun exposure, especially between 10am and 3pm
• Slip on some sun-protective clothing – that covers as much skin as possible
• Slop on broad spectrum, water resistant SPF30+ sunscreen. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and every two hours afterwards. Sunscreen should never be used to extend the time you spend in the sun.
• Slap on a hat – that protects your face, head, neck and ears
• Seek shade
• Slide on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian Standards
• Avoid tanning bed/solariums
• Have skin/moles checked regularly 

Screening     

• Be aware of your skin and see your doctor if you have a mole that has changed shape, size or colour, or bleeds, or an inflamed skin sore that hasn’t healed.

Some people at high risk will need a regular check-up as advised by your doctor. Anyone can develop skin cancer but many people in Australia are at increased risk. If you have any of these risk factors, talk to your GP about the need for an annual check-up.

You may be at increased risk of skin cancer if you:

• have a lot of moles
• have a close relative who has had melanoma
• are aged over 50
• have infrequent but intense exposure to the sun
• have had skin cancer in the past
• have skin that is fair, burns easily, freckles and doesn't easily tan
• have red or fair hair and blue or green eyes
• have a compromised immune system. This could be due to taking certain drugs after an organ transplant or being HIV positive. 

For information about diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, visit: http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/melanoma.htm 

 

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a malignant cancer of the prostate. More than 16,000 cases (nearly 30% of male cancers) are diagnosed each year in Australia and it is responsible for around 3000 deaths. It is the second most common cause of cancer death among Australian men, after lung cancer. Prostate cancer is most prevalent in men aged over 65, although it also occurs in men below this age.  

There are two main stages of prostate cancer: 

• Early (localised) prostate cancer, when the cancer has been found early enough that it hasn’t spread from the prostate. Early prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms.  
• Advanced prostate cancer, when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the bones and lymph nodes.   

Symptoms 

• Pain or burning when urinating
• Difficulty in, or increased frequency of urinating
• Blood in the urine or semen.

 Causes 

• Increased risk over the age of 50
• Increased risk if there is a family history
• Those of African descent are most likely to be affected of all races 

For information about diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer: http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/cancertypes/prostatecancer.htm 

 

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth highest killer of Australian men, with almost 1000 deaths each year.

Symptoms

Early stages of pancreatic cancer rarely cause symptoms. Symptoms are often not noticed until the cancer is big enough to touch and affect organs nearby. 

Early signs of pancreatic cancer include:

• pain in the upper abdomen
• loss of appetite
• nausea and vomiting
• weight loss
• changed bowel motions – either diarrhoea or severe
• constipation
• yellowish skin and eyes, and dark urine – these signs are caused by a condition called jaundice, which occurs if the tumour blocks the bile duct into the digestive system.

All these symptoms are common to many conditions and may not mean you have pancreatic cancer. However, if you have these symptoms you should have them checked by your doctor.

Causes 

The causes of pancreatic cancer are not known, however research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop pancreatic cancer.

Risk factors include:

• age – pancreatic cancer occurs mostly in people over the age of 65
• smoking – cigarette smokers are two to three times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer
• diabetes – pancreatic cancer occurs more often in people who have diabetes
• family history – of pancreatic, ovarian or colon cancer increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer
• chronic inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)

For information about diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, visit Cancer Council’s Understanding Pancreatic Cancer guide at http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/html/patientsfamiliesfriends/typesofcancer/pancreatic/downloads/pancreatic.pdf

 

Other Cancers Causing Death In Men

There are a number of other cancers causing death to thousands of Australian men each year. The following cancers are more likely to affect men than women, and are often preventable through lifestyle choices.

Some examples include: 

Stomach and oesophageal cancer: Both are associated with ageing (which unfortunately isn’t preventable), tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Deaths from these cancers are twice as common in men than women. Forty-six percent of oesophageal cancers in men are attributed to excessive alcohol consumption and more than 800 men will die of the disease each year. 

Bladder cancer: Men are three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than women. Forty-three percent of bladder cancers in men are related to smoking. 

Head and neck cancers: Men are three times more likely to die from head and neck cancers than women. 

Many factors may place you at risk of developing head and neck cancer, but the main risk factor of head and neck cancers (excluding skin cancer in this region) is tobacco use. 

Tobacco or marijuana use, such as smoking cigarettes or pipes, using chewing tobacco and dipping snuff, accounts for the vast majority of all head and neck cancers. 

Alcohol use is also strongly linked to head and neck cancer. Your risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. Using both tobacco and alcohol together further increases your risk. 

Kidney cancer: Men have twice the risk of developing kidney cancer than women. Almost 30% of kidney cancers in men are attributed to smoking. 

Other lifestyle-related risk factors for kidney cancer include: obesity, given excess body fat may cause changes in certain hormones that can lead to kidney cancer; and high blood pressure, which is especially a risk factor in people who are also obese. 

 

Early Detection

Some cancers can be detected at an early stage when treatment is likely to be more effective. Tests have been developed that can detect these cancers well before any symptoms are present. 

Tests are currently available for bowel cancer and provided free of charge for all Australians turning 50, 55 or 65 years of age between January 2008 and December 2010. 

Until the Federal Government’s bowel cancer screening program is fully implemented, all men aged 50 and over are urged to talk to your doctor about screening. Taking a simple faecal occult blood test at home could save your life. 

It is also a good idea to get to know your own body. If you notice any changes, such as a spot growing on your skin, unexplained fatigue or abdominal pain, see your doctor. 

The information contained in this section should not be used for individual medical advice. Please see your doctor if you have concerns or specific questions relating to your health.