Cancer in Men
Taking all of the necessary steps to maintain good health is something that men should have as one of their top goals all year long. The team at Comprehensive Cancer Centers understands that it can be easy to lose focus, and welcomes the arrival of Men’s Health Month and the opportunity it presents to help men look to build upon good habits, while building new ones appropriate to their ages and family histories.
Men’s Health Month was created to increase awareness of preventable health problems, while offering encouragement for taking steps toward early detection and treatment of diseases, such as cancer, among men. This month gives health care providers, such as the team at Comprehensive Cancer Centers, along with lawmakers, media and men everywhere an opportunity to decide to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for diseases.
The month is also important as a higher percentage of men, in comparison to women, go to the doctor less for routine checkups. Additional factors can be lifestyle related, such as being employed in the high risk occupations, such as mining, firefighting, construction, and fishing, and may lead to less healthy lifestyles that include risk taking at younger ages than women.
What Can Men Do to Improve Their Health?
The simplest changes men can make to improve their health is by eating smarter with healthier foods and smaller portions. Great ideas for how to do that can be found in the Comprehensive Blog’s Recipe page. Additionally, getting up and getting active with at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day for at least five days helps improve your health. Resources on how to get such a plan started can be found here. Getting active can reduce risks for cancer, as well as diabetes, other health issues, while also building better mental health.
Get Regular Checkups and Cancer Screenings
Men aren’t always the best at taking care of themselves by getting regular checkups. But regular checkups are important as they help establish baselines for health that physicians can easily reference to track and detect any problems before they become bigger problems.
Getting an annual checkup can detect health issues often years before you notice them, which at that time may be too late to treat easily and even successfully.
Comprehensive recommends that men follow guidelines provided by primary care physicians for regular cancer screening and self-examinations, some of which are outlined below.
- Colorectal Cancer Screenings – Screening begins at age 50 in average-risk adults with a colonoscopy a common test for detecting polyps and colorectal cancer. If discovered, polyps can be removed at the time of the test, offering a simple way to get ahead of cancer before it begins.
- Testicular Cancer Screenings – Most testicular cancer cases occur between the ages of 20 and 54. All men should have a testicular exam during routine physicals, as well as conduct regular self-exams, testing for hard lumps, smooth bumps, or changes in size or shape of the testes.
- Skin Cancer Screenings – Men are two to three times more likely to get non-melanoma basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers than women. A skin exam by a dermatologist or other health professional should be part of your annual routine checkup.
- Prostate Cancer Screenings – Men in their 50s should be tested as part of regular checkups. Men ages 40-45 should be tested more regularly if they are high risk
Comprehensive Cancer Centers Can Help
Physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers provide a variety of treatment options for men’s health including cancer, blood disorders, lung conditions, sleep disorders, world-class clinical research and immunotherapy. To schedule an appointment with the team at Comprehensive, please call 702-952-3350.
The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
