his year, an estimated 675,300 American men or boys will be diagnosed with cancer.  More than half of those handed this devastating news will beat the disease.  

The three male-only cancers - prostate, testicular, and penile - have  high survival rates even though the long and short term side effects of treatment can have significant effects on quality of life. 

Men have a higher incidence than women of other cancers such as lung, liver, bladder and kidney cancer. It is not uncommon for these cancers to   have progressed by the time they are detected.  

Because early detection is the key to long-term survival with most cancers, regular screening in at-risk populations and vigilant attention to changes in one's own body are supremely important. 

SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR

Prostate Cancer

More than 220,900 cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed this year. 

Early prostate cancer is usually detected through a digital rectal exam (DRE) or PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test because there are rarely symptoms. DRE and PSA testing is recommended annually for men over 50 or earlier for African American men or men with a history of prostate cancer in the family. 

Advanced prostate cancer can manifest as trouble urinating,  blood in the urine, impotence, pain in the pelvis, spine, and ribs. While other benign conditions can also these symptoms, any new symptoms should be checked by a physician immediately. 

For more information about prostate cancer from cancerpage, click here.
Latest news about prostate cancer.

Testicular Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 7,600 new cases of testicular cancer identified this year. 

Testicular cancer is often detected early because of symptoms such as a swelling of a testicle or development of a lump in a testicle.  Men may experience a feeling of heaviness or aching in the groin or lower abdomen area.

Sometimes, a tenderness of the breasts or reduced sexual desire is reported as a symptom of testicular cancer because the tumors produce sex hormones or a chemical which leads to breast development.

While more than 60% of cancers are diagnosed in people over 55 years of age, testicular cancer can strike young adults. Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor in men between the ages of 25 and 35 years.   Cyclist Lance Armstrong was only 25 when he was diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer.

Physicians will usually exam the testicles during general exams. Men can also perform self-exams just a s women perform breast self-exams. 

To learn more about testicular cancer from cancerpage, click here.
Lance Armstrong Foundation self-exam page.
Latest  news about testicular cancer.

Penile Cancer

Some 1,400 American men will be diagnosed with penile cancer this year.  Penile cancers occur most commonly in uncircumcised men. Although malignant lesions have been found in young men, most patients are over 50 years.

A physician should be seen if there are any of the following problems: 

• growths or sores on the penis
• thickening of the skin
• unusual discharge near the head of the penis
• bleeding 

Men may be reluctant to see their physician about these symptoms but should know that penile cancer is highly curable if caught early.  If allowed to advance, the prognosis is less promising. 

To learn more about Penile Cancer from cancerpage, click here. 
Latest news about penile cancer.

Lung Cancer

Nearly 92,000 men are expected to be diagnosed with lung cancer this year. 

Often there are no symptoms of lung cancer until the disease has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other areas of the body. Many times, early stage lung cancer is discovered incidentally during medical tests for another condition.

A physician should be seen if you have any of the following symptoms:

• A cough that doesn't go away
• Hoarseness
• Bloody or rust colored sputum 
• Fever without a known cause
• Recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pains aggravated by deep breathing
• Onset of wheezing
• Weight loss or loss of appetite

Lung cancer that has spread may cause the following symptoms:

• Bone pain
• Neurologic changes (such as weakness or numbness of a limb, dizziness)
• Jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes)
• Masses near the surface of the body, due to cancer spreading to the skin or to lymph nodes (collection of immune system cells) in the neck or above the collarbone.

To learn more about lung cancer from cancerpage, click here.
Latest news about lung cancer.

Colorectal Cancer

Nearly 73,000 cases of cancer of the colon or rectum are expected to be diagnosed in American men this year. 

Most men should start some sort of screening regimen at age 50. Men at higher risk of colorectal cancer should start screening at age 40. 

Choose one of the following regimens:

• Fecal occult blood test FOBT) every year
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
• Annual FOBT & flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
• Double-contrast barium enema every five years
• Colonoscopy every ten years

You should see a doctor immediately if any of the following symptoms appear :

• Change in bowel habits

• Feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is no relieved by doing so

• Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool

• Cramping or a steady pain in the area of the stomach

• Decreased appetite

• Weakness or fatigue

• Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes)

Learn more about colon and rectal cancer from cancerpage, click here for colon cancer. Or click here for rectal cancer.

Liver Cancer

Nearly 11,700 American men are expected to be diagnosed with liver cancer or cancer of the intra-hepatic bile duct this year. Symptoms to keep an eye on are:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Anorexia (persistent lack of appetite)
• Early satiety (feeling very full after a small meal)
• Persistent abdominal pain
• Increasing abdominal swelling
• Jaundice (yellow-green coloration of the skin and eyes)
• Deterioration in your condition if you have chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
• Liver enlargement or a mass that can be felt in the area of the liver
• Growth of the breasts
• High blood calcium levels
• Low blood sugar levels

You should see a physician is you have one or more of these symptoms. 

To learn more about liver cancer from cancerpage, click here.
Latest news about liver cancer.

Urinary System (Bladder, Kidney and Ureter)

Sixty-three-thousand-three-hundred  American men will be diagnosed with some form of cancer of the urinary tract this year. 

Bladder Cancer

Blood in the urine (hematuria)  or changes in urinary habits such as having to urinate frequently can be symptoms of bladder cancer. Of course, these symptoms can be the result of other non-cancerous conditions but you should see your doctor immediately if they arise. 

To learn more about bladder cancer from cancerpage, click here.
Latest news about bladder cancer.

Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer often develops with no symptoms evident until it the tumor is very large or has spread to other organs. As a result, many kidney cancers are discovered at a late stage. 

You should tell your doctor if you have a family history of kidney cancer or Von Hippel-Lindau's disease. None the less, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should tell your doctor about it immediately:

• Blood in the urine 
• Low back pain on one side not associated with injury
• A mass or lump in the abdomen (belly)
• Fatigue
• Weight loss that is not intentional
• Fever that is not associated with a cold, flu, or other infection and that doesn’t go away after a few weeks
• Swelling of ankles and legs called edema

To learn more about kidney cancer from cancerpage, click here.

Ureter Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates 1600 American men will be diagnosed with ureter or other urinary organ cancer (other than bladder, kidney or renal pelvis) this year.

The ureters are two vessels that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. A doctor should be seen if any of the following symptoms appear:

• blood in the urine 
• pain during urination, 
• passing urine often, or 
• feeling the need to urinate but nothing comes out.

These symptoms can occur with non-cancerous conditions as well but a physician should be consulted when they arise.

To learn more about ureter cancer from cancerpage , click here.

This page was last updated May 30, 2003.

SOURCES:

• American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute

Written by Rachael Myers Lowe, cancerpage.com
Reviewed by Katie Mullaly, RN, MSN, cancerpage.com

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