Cancer in men: what are the types and how to recognize the symptoms

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According to the WHO, the most common types of cancer in the world are breast cancer, lung cancer, colon and rectal cancer, and prostate cancer.

If we divide the statistics by gender, then women most often suffer from breast, colon, lung and cervical cancer.

At the same time, the most common types of cancer in men are prostate cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, as well as colorectal cancer and melanoma. Also, only men can have testicular and penile cancer (less common).

In the initial stages, cancer is asymptomatic, so it is important to be examined regularly.

Being aware of the symptoms and detecting cancer as soon as possible can help save lives.

“UP. Life” explains which types of cancer are more common in men and how to recognize the symptoms.

For this, we used the materials of the American Cancer Society, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, the National Health Service of Great Britain and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

Importantly! This material is based on the latest and current scientific research, is of an informational and reference nature only and cannot be the basis for establishing a medical diagnosis. To establish a diagnosis and receive treatment, be sure to consult a doctor!

Prostate cancer

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Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.

In 21% of cases, prostate cancer is detected already at the stages when metastases appear.

“If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s most likely adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma starts in the cells of glands like the prostate that secrete fluid. Rarely, prostate cancer forms from other types of cells.

Small cell carcinomas, transitional cell carcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors and sarcomas are less common.” – say the Cleveland Clinic.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer in the early stages can be asymptomatic. But with the progression of the disease, the following symptoms appear:

• frequent, sometimes urgent urges to urinate, especially at night;
• weak, intermittent or accelerated urination;
• pain or burning during urination (dysuria);
• incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• enuresis;
• fecal incontinence;
• painful ejaculation and erectile dysfunction;
• blood in semen or urine;
• pain in the lower back, hip or pelvis.

Note that not all neoplasms in the prostate are cancer.

Men may have benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis (a benign disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the prostate gland).

Be sure to consult a doctor to establish a diagnosis!

The following factors increase the risk of prostate cancer:

• age from 50 years and older (about 60% of prostate cancer cases occur in people older than 65);
• family history of prostate cancer;
• genetic predisposition (family history of Lynch syndrome).
• smoking;
• BMI > 30 (obesity);
• sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Prevention

The most important advice for cancer prevention is regular preventive examinations by a urologist, especially for men over 50 years of age.

To reduce the risk of cancer, doctors advise men to maintain a healthy weight, be physically active, follow a healthy diet, eat less red meat, sweets, do not smoke, do not abuse alcohol and ultra-processed food.

Also, some studies say that men who regularly ejaculate (due to sex or masturbation) have a lower risk of prostate cancer.

Read also: Sex does not cause, alcohol does not cure. Myths about prostate cancer have been disproved at Central Hospital

Testicular cancer

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Testicular cancer – a malignant tumor that mostly occurs in men from 14 to 40 years old and from 15 to 35 years old.

The most common sign to look out for is: painless tumor in the testicle.

The following symptoms may also indicate testicular cancer:

• swelling or accumulation of fluid in the scrotum;
• tightness or swelling in both testicles;
• feeling of heaviness in the scrotum;
• dull pain in the groin or lower abdomen;
• pain or discomfort in the scrotum or testicle;
• increase in mammary glands, pain in them;
• reduction of the testicle (testicular atrophy).

These symptoms can also occur with other diseases, so you should definitely consult a doctor.

White men are more likely to get testicular cancer than men of other races and ethnicities. It is also one of the most curable types of cancer.

Other factors that increase the risk of developing testicular cancer include:

• cryptorchidism (undescended testicle);
• hypospadias (displacement of the urethral opening from the tip of the penis to the bottom);
• testicular cancer in the anamnesis or in the family;
• HIV/AIDS;
• certain genetic diseases.

The Cleveland Clinic also notes that men with infertility may be at risk of testicular cancer.

Prevention

Testicular cancer cannot be prevented, but you can perform self-examination of your testicles to detect early changes that should be reported to your doctor.

Contact your doctor if you notice lumps, nodules, enlargement or shrinkage of the testicle.

Read also: What examinations should women and men do to prevent the development of cancer? The Ministry of Health explains

Colorectal cancer

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Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the colon and rectum, which is formed from epithelial cells. It can occur in representatives of both sexes, but it occurs more often in men.

Consult a doctor if you notice the following symptoms:

• pathological fatigue;
• sudden weight loss;
• symptom complex of anemia – dizziness, pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, palpitations and shortness of breath with relatively minor physical exertion;
• changes in the work of the intestines – repeated long-term constipation, diarrhea, intestinal spasms, episodes of diarrhea without a reason;
• abdominal pain or bloating;
• blood in stool

Factors that increase the risk of colon cancer are:

• insufficient physical activity;
• a diet with a high content of red and processed meat;
• excess body weight;
• smoking, drinking alcohol;
• inflammatory bowel diseases;
• the presence of colorectal polyps;
• family history of colon cancer or polyps.

Prevention

Regular screening is one of the best ways to prevent colon cancer. Most colon cancers start with a polyp, a small growth in the colon or rectum.

Screening can help detect colon cancer at an early stage, when it is more treatable.

The American Cancer Society especially recommends regular screening for men after age 45.

Read also: Cancer in men: what services can be obtained for free? Explanation of NSZU

Bladder cancer

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Bladder cancer is a malignant tumor that is 3-4 times more common in men than in women. This cancer most often starts in the cells that line the inside of the bladder.

Bladder cancer symptoms may include:

• blood in the urine (although sometimes the urine looks normal, and blood is detected in a laboratory test);
• frequent urination;
• painful urination;
• back pain.

If you notice a change in the color of your urine, see your doctor.

Men are more prone to developing bladder cancer than women.

Here are other factors that can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer:

• smoking;
• age 50+;
• exposure to certain chemicals (arsenic and some chemicals used in the production of dyes, rubber, leather, textiles and paint products);
• prior treatment with the anticancer drug cyclophosphamide;
• chronic inflammation of the bladder, recurrent urinary infections or cystitis;
• personal or family history of cancer;
• genetics (family history of Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer).

Prevention

Doctors advise not to smoke, be careful with chemicals (if you work with chemicals or near them, follow all safety rules to avoid their effects), avoid dehydration, follow a balanced diet, reduce the consumption of fatty foods and red meat, on time get tested and report any suspicious symptoms to your doctor.

Penile cancer

Photo: Cleveland Clinic

Penile cancer is a rare type of cancer that mostly affects the skin of the penis and the foreskin (the skin that covers the head of the penis).

Penile cancer is quite rare – it affects less than 1% of men in Europe. Among the people suffering from it, mostly men are over 50 years old.

The most common symptoms are:

• growths or sores on the penis that do not heal for a long time;
• rashes;
• changes in the appearance of the penis;
• bleeding from the penis or from under the foreskin;
• discharge with an unpleasant smell;
• thickening of the skin of the penis or foreskin, which makes it difficult to retract the foreskin;
• change in color of the skin of the penis or foreskin;
• tightness in the groin;
• feeling tired;
• abdominal pain;
• sudden weight loss.

Risk factors

A large proportion of penile cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

However, most people who have HPV do not get penile cancer.

Penile cancer is most common in men over the age of 50.

The risk also increases:

• smoking;
• problems with retracting the foreskin (phimosis);
• treating psoriasis with medications called psoralens and ultraviolet light sources;
• weakened immune system due to HIV infection.

Read also: When to contact an oncologist? Dangerous symptoms were mentioned in Central Hospital

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