The Complete Book of Men's Health - Part 2: Illness and Disease

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in males aged 15 to 64, and unfortunately it is on the increase.

One in three will suffer a cancer at some stage during his life, and one in four men will die from it. The commonest male cancers in the Western world are those that affect the:

• lungs

• skin (non-melanoma)

• colon and rectum

• prostate

• bladder

• stomach

• lymphatic system (Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma)

• pancreas

• oesophagus

• white blood cells (Leukaemia).

Worldwide, lung cancer is the commonest male tumour, having recently overtaken cancer of the stomach. Unfortunately, the overall incidence of all tumours seems to be rising. One study in Sweden, for example, has shown that over the last 30 years the incidence of cancer has risen by 55 per cent in men over the age of 50. For men under the age of 30, the incidence of cancer had increased by up to 40 per cent. It seems that the rise in incidence of cancer is linked with increased exposure to environmental carcinogens and ionizing radiation. Some cancers are already linked with particular causative agents:

• Smoking is associated with 90 per cent of lung cancers and a third of all other cancer deaths.

• Occupation is linked with one in 10 lung cancers: cranemen, derrickmen and hoistmen have a 14-fold increased risk of lung cancer, while sheet metal workers, tinsmiths, bookbinders and printing trade workers have three times the normal risk.

• Alcohol is linked with cancer of the tongue, throat, oesophagus and liver.

• Occupational exposure to certain chemicals is linked with cancer of the scrotum (see Chapter 2).

• A poor diet (low in antioxidant vitamins and fibre and high in saturated fat) is linked with over a third of all malignancies.

• Some cancers have an hereditary link, for example cancer of the prostate gland and testes.

The good news is that cancer detection and treatment are two of the fastest growing fields in medicine, and many cancers are now curable if caught at an early stage. With new gene therapy techniques it is hoped that tumour cells can be 'switched off' or made more visible to the immune system for targeted eradication.

WARNING SIGNS FOR THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER

There are several warning signs to look out for that might indicate you have a tumour. Although in many cases these signs will be due to something less sinister, it is better to worry, get checked and receive an all clear than to dismiss the signs and delay an important diagnosis. The signs to watch out for include:

• weight loss for no apparent reason

• loss of appetite with tiredness and listlessness

• a scab, sore or ulcer that does not heal within three weeks

• a mole or other skin blemish that enlarges, crusts, bleeds, itches or becomes darker in colour

• a persistent, nagging cough

• coughing up blood

• a change in bowel habit

• a change in bladder habit

• blood in the urine

• blood or brown 'coffee grounds' in vomit

• difficulty swallowing

• feeling full despite eating very little

• hoarseness lasting more than three weeks

• a persistent sore throat

• unusual bleeding or discharge from any orifice

• unusual thickening or a lump anywhere on the body

• a change in the shape or size of the testes

• nagging indigestion that keeps coming back

• persistent abdominal pain

• black bowel motions

• severe, recurrent headaches

• recurrent deep pain in any part of the body.

CANCER PREVENTION

Many cancers can be prevented by altering your diet and lifestyle. You can significantly reduce your risk of developing the disease by:

• giving up smoking

• losing excess weight and taking regular exercise

• reducing exposure to sun and ultra-violet (UV) irradiation

• using high-factor sun screens and covering up whenever you are exposed to the sun

• avoiding sunburn

• obeying safety rules and wearing protective clothing when working with dangerous chemicals or irradiation processes

• avoiding skin exposure to soot, tar, mineral oils and other noxious substances

• keeping alcohol intake within safe limits

• avoiding sexually transmissible diseases by practising safer sex

• examining your testicles regularly once per month

• washing under the foreskin regularly

• eating a high-fibre diet and avoiding constipation

• following a diet low in saturated fats

• eating a diet rich in vitamins C, E and betacarotene

• eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day

• increasing your intake of wholegrain cereals and pulses

• reducing your intake of salt-cured, salt-pickled and smoked foods

In fact, a diet that is good for the heart is also excellent at reducing the risk of cancer (see lifestyle factors).

See also the chapters that discuss specific male cancers (Chapters 1, 2, 6, 10, 16 and 17).