Cancer

Having your engine running in good order doesn't prevent you from getting rust - that is, cancer. Men have a slightly lower chance of developing cancer than women, but 29 percent will eventually succumb to a fatal cancer. The cancers killing the most men are lung and bowel cancers, although there are serious men-only cancers such as prostate and testicular cancers.

Lung cancer

The cancer that kills the most men (around six percent of all men) is lung cancer. Lung cancer treatments aren't very successful - fewer than 10 percent of men who are diagnosed with it live more than 5 years. Prevention is the key.

Symptoms

Persistent cough, coughing up blood, breathlessness, and chest pains.

Causes and risk factors

Up to 90 percent of lung cancer results from smoking. Exposure to asbestos, steel, nickel, chrome, and coal-gas processing may also increase your risk.

Preventive maintenance

Stop smoking. And if you haven't started, don't. Wear a mask around dangerous substances.

Check-ups

If you have symptoms, a doctor is likely to recommend a chest x-ray, biopsy, and scan.

Age of onset

Lung cancer is most common in men aged 40 to 70 who have been smoking for at least 20 years.

Bowel cancer

The second-most fatal cancer in men is bowel cancer, which affects the colon or rectum. Early detection improves the chances of successful treatment. Bowel cancer kills around 600 men a year - four percent of all male deaths.

Symptoms

Prolonged constipation or diarrhoea for more than 10 days, blood or mucus in faeces, and paleness and tiredness from anaemia.

Causes and risk factors

Still largely unknown. May include family history, other hereditary conditions, and a diet high in meat and fat but low in fibre.

Preventive maintenance

Eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly.

Check-ups

If you have a family history of bowel problems, or suspect you have a higher-than-average risk, consult your GP.

Age of onset

90 percent of cases occur in men aged 50 years and older.

Prostate cancer

While most prostate problems are not cancer, prostate cancer is the most common male cancer. It also kills around 600 (4 percent) men a year.

Symptoms

Problems urinating are the common symptoms of both prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. You may have trouble starting or trouble stopping, or the flow may be weak. Urinating more frequently is also common, especially at night. Unfortunately, the early stages of prostate cancer often cause no physical symptoms; by the time symptoms are obvious, it has spread to other parts of the body and is incurable.

Causes and risk factors

The exact cause of prostate cancer - like that of many cancers - is unknown. There appears to be a genetic component: men face an increased risk of developing prostate cancer if an immediate male relative has had the condition.

Preventive maintenance

No specific measures, but eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly, avoid excessive alcohol, and don't smoke.

Check-ups

Regular PSA blood tests and digital rectal examinations can reveal changes in your prostate. The next step is usually a biopsy, to check for cancer.

Age of onset

Prostate cancer occurs more often in older men - 80 percent of cases are found in men over 65. It's rare in men under the age of 50.

Prostate health

The prostate is a sex gland that sits at the base of the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the tube going from the bladder and sex glands to the penis). Men typically have problems with their prostate in later life. Most prostate problems are not cancer. Nine out of 10 men with prostate problems have prostate enlargement.

Testicular cancer and other disorders

A surprising number of things can go wrong with your testicles - fortunately most of them are not serious. Disorders include swelling of the testicles, inflammation, and twisting of a testicle within the scrotum. All of these are readily treatable.

Testicular cancer is rare and accounts for only one percent of all cancers in men. It's the most common cancer in men aged 20 to 35 and is extremely rare in older men. If detected early, 90 percent of testicular cancers can be cured. An ultrasound may be necessary for accurate diagnosis.

Symptoms

The testicle can change in size, shape or firmness. Pain may or may not be present.

Causes and risk factors

No one knows exactly why this cancer develops. Boys with an undescended testicle are five times more likely to develop testicular cancer, and family history may play a part as well.

Preventive maintenance

Self-examination is the most common way of finding an abnormality. Any changes in the testicles should be discussed with your doctor.

Check-ups

After examination, your GP may send you for an ultrasound or biopsy.

Age of onset

Testicular cancer can affect men of any age, but is more likely between the ages of 20 and 35.