Men and Cancer Risk

Men and women face different cancer risks, due to differences in biology and lifestyle.
The most common forms in men are prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancers. Aside from prostate cancer, cancers that affect only men include testicular cancer and penile cancer, both of which are very rare.


Prostate Cancer:

The Facts... The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system about the size of a walnut. It’s located in front of the rectum, under the bladder, and it surrounds the urethra. The prostate creates part of the semen expressed during ejaculation.

Risk factors... Age is a key risk factor in prostate cancer. Your risk of getting the disease increases as you get older. Your risk is higher if you have a family history of prostate cancer or if you are African-American.


Lung Cancer:

The Fact...Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer for men and women, and the second most common type of cancer in men, accounting for 15 percent of newly diagnosed cancer cases.

Risk factors... Smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke causes most cases of lung cancer. Exposure to chemicals or environmental factors like pollution or asbestos can also cause lung cancer.



Colorectal Cancer:

The Facts...The colon and rectum are parts of the digestive system, with the colon making up most of the large intestine and the rectum making up the final inches.

Statistics...The third most common type of cancer affecting men, cancers of the colon and rectum accounted for 77,250 newly diagnosed cases of cancer in men, about 10 percent, in 2008, and about 24,260 deaths. There is a five-year survival rate of 64 percent.

Risk factors... Age, family history, and genetics have been linked to the incidence of colorectal cancer. Some studies suggest a high-fat diet low in fruits and vegetables also might be a contributing factor. Doctors have found that colorectal cancer can grow from polyps found on the inner wall of the colon or rectum.


Testicular Cancer:

The Facts...The testicles are the pair of male sex glands located below the penis that produce and store sperm and are a man's main source of testosterone.

Statistics... Testicular cancer accounts for only 1 percent of all cancers in men, or about 8,000 men each year, and about 390 U.S. men die from it annually. Most cases are diagnosed in young and middle-aged men. The five-year survival rate is 96 percent.

Risk factors. ..Men suffering from an undescended testicle or with birth defects of the testicles have an increased risk of testicular cancer.


Penile Cancer:

The Facts...The penis is also susceptible to cancer.

Statistics... There were about 1,250 new cases of penile cancer in the United States in 2008, and about 290 deaths. The five-year survival rate is 78 percent.

Risk factors... Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been linked to an increased risk of penile cancer. Poor personal hygiene among uncircumcised men also is a risk factor.


Many of the cancers affecting men can be either prevented or successfully treated if caught early. So it only makes sense for men who are at risk and all men over 40 to receive regular check-ups that include screening for the most prevalent types of cancer.

Cancer ....What you should know...

CANCER will become world number one killer by 2010, as the number of people in poorer countries is expected to grow due to smoking, high-fat diets and other factors, according to a report released by World Health Organisation.

Many people tend to think of cancer as one disease. But the word cancer describes a large group of diseases that have certain traits in common, yet exhibit distinctive characteristics. In fact, there are over 200 known types of cancer that all behave in different ways, grow at different rates, and respond to different types of treatment. But what all cancers have in common is the growth of abnormal cells in the body. They replicate rapidly, are difficult to destroy, and can overwhelm normal, healthy cells.

CANCER remains the main cause of death in men and women.

Medical professionals measure cancer by its stage, which is based on an assessment of the size of the primary tumor, whether it has spread, and, if so, how far. Because an accurate diagnosis is so important to effective treatment, they might use physical exams, imaging, lab tests, a biopsy, an analysis of your body’s fluids, and surgery in various combinations in the staging proce ss.

Types of cancer

There are five major types of cancer, based on the type of tissue where the diseased cells originate:

Carcinomas are solid tumors that can form on almost any organ, including the skin. Adenocarcinomas start in the cells covering a gland, such as the ovaries, and squamous cell carcinomas form in the cells covering other internal tissues, such as the cervix or lungs. 80% of tumors are classified as carcinomas.

Sarcomas start in connective tissue such as muscle, fat, cartilage, and bone. Tumors in fatty tissue are called liposarcomas, and bone tumors are called osteosarcomas.

Leukemias are hematologic, or blood, cancers that originate in the blood or blood-forming organs. These cancer cells don’t usually form solid tumors.

Lymphomas are hematologic cancers that develop in the lymphatic system — the network of nodes and vessels that transports lymphatic fluid through the body.

Myelomas, cancers that start in plasma cells found in bone marrow, were once considered uncommon but are now diagnosed much more often.

Since most parts of the body are composed of different kinds of tissue, it’s possible for two people with tumors of the same primary site to have different types of cancer. Uterine cancers, for example, are usually carcinomas, but they can also occur as sarcomas, if they develop in the connective tissue of the uterus.

Major defensive players

The immune system plays a major role in helping your body fight cancer. Here are some of the forces on the front line:

• The lymphatic system which includes lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and the spleen, helps the body to cleanse itself of bacteria and other harmful substances.
• Leukocytes, or white blood cells, protect the body by repairing damaged cells, killing foreign organisms, and helping heal injured tissue.
• Protein molecules called antibodies are created when the immune system detects an antigen — a bacteria, virus, or other invader. Each antibody is uniquely designed to destroy a specific antigen.
• Natural Killer, or NK, cells patrol the body, looking for cancerous cells and viruses. Unlike antibodies, NK cells carry about 100 poisonous chemical substances and can destroy intruders quickly, without ever having seen them before.

Healthy Body Healthy Mind

Health of body and mind is a great blessing, if we can bear it.

Building a healthy lifestyle for yourself and your family is one of the most valuable goals to aim at. Creating healthy habits is not as difficult as you think. Here are some tips to point you in the right direction of gaining a healthy lifestyle, even if your life is very busy.

FOOD TIPS

1. Choose Dark Salad Greens- Romaine Lettuce, Spinach, watercress, arugula, green beans are other nutritious greens for your lifestyle.

2. Regularly juice fruits and vegetables.

3. Reduce your intake of fried foods, eat steamed or grilled vegetables and foods.

4. Margarine and foods containing hydrogenated fats increase risk of heart disease. Avoid them.

5. When preparing brownies, cakes, cookies, or any other baking recipe, substitute applesauce for butter or oil.

6. Eat beans and other legumes. Beans, lentils and dried peas are all good sources of fiber and consumed regularly, may help lower cholesterol levels.

7. Cook in cast-iron or steel pots to increase iron in your diet.

8. Eat fish to help your heart, it reduces your risk of heart attack.

9. Sauté vegetables in broth instead of butter.

10. Don’t skip breakfast. If you are in a hurry, eat an apple, banana or an orange.

11. Do not be fooled by fat-free recipes. Most of them are high in calories. You need to read the labels carefully.

EXERCISE TIPS

12. Work out at the gym or buy a treadmill and exercise bike for 20-30 minutes

13. Take the stairs, park your car far distance so you can walk.

14. Walk hills to burn more calories.

15. Sports activity like basketball, soccer, swimming, surfing, bicycling, bowling etc

16. Do chores in and around the home- working in the garden, vacuuming, sweeping, raking the leaves, mowing the lawn.

THINGS TO AVOID

17. Avoid flavored water juices, drinks, yogurt with sucralose and aspartame and avoid using other artificial sweeteners in your teas and coffee.

18. Salad dressings, sauces, spices, snacks, chips with monosodium glutamate. MSG can give you chest pains, nausea feeling, headaches, sweating and heart palpitations.

19. Drink less sodas (especially diet sodas which can give you headaches and affect your brain function. Instead drink water (6-8 glasses of purified or bottled water) or healthy beverages.

20. Use teas and coffee with less caffeine.

21. Be determined to quit smoking and gain help in doing it

HEALTHY HABITS

22. Snack wisely and healthy. (fruits, vegetables, rice chips, yogurt, granola)

23. Get 7 or more hours of sleep.

24. Find great ways to cope with stress, take vacations, take breaks, a day off.

25. Gain a realistic, hopeful, optimistic outlook on life.