Male-related
Cancer Information
The
following information includes information on the leading
causes of cancer deaths for men. Each of the Top 5 cancer
sites has a link that will take you directly to specific
information on the American
Cancer Society website. Visit the site, as well
as the Centers
for Disease Control, to find more information on
risk factors, prevention strategies, as well as frequently
asked questions and treatment options.
Leading
Causes of Cancer Deaths for Men:
In
2002 there will be about 169,400 new cases of lung cancer
in the United States, 90,200 among men and 79,200 among
women, and about 154,900 people (89,200 men and 65,700
women) will die of the disease. Lung cancer is fairly
rare in people under the age of 40; average age at diagnosis
is 60.
Most
lung cancers start in the lining of the bronchi, but
can also begin in other areas of the lung such as the
trachea, bronchioles, or alveoli. Lung cancer often
takes many years to develop but once it occurs, cancer
cells can break away and spread to other parts of the
body in a process called metastasis. Lung cancer is
a life-threatening disease because it often spreads
before it is found.
There
are two main types of lung cancer:
Small
cell lung cancer accounts for about 20% of all lung
cancers. Although the cancer cells are small, they can
multiply quickly and form large tumors that can spread
to the lymph nodes and then to other organs. This kind
of cancer is almost always caused by smoking; it is
very rare for someone who has never smoked to have small
cell lung cancer.
Non-small
cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung
cancer, accounting for almost 80% of lung cancers. There
are three subtypes within this group.
Squamous cell carcinoma is linked to a history of
smoking. It tends to be found centrally, near a bronchus.
Adenocarcinoma is usually found in the outer region
of the lung.
Large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma can appear in
any part of the lung and tends to grow and spread
quickly, resulting in a poor outlook for the patient.
The best way to prevent lung cancer is not to smoke
and to avoid people who do.
2.
Prostate
Prostate
cancer starts in the prostate gland, which is found
just below the bladder and in front of the rectum in
men. In 2002, there will be about 189,000 new cases
of prostate cancer and about 30,200 men will die of
the disease in the United States. Although men of any
age can get prostate cancer, it is found most often
in men over 50. In fact, more than 70% of all prostate
cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. Prostate
cancer is about twice as common among African-American
men as it is among white American men. More cases occur
in North America and northwestern Europe than in Asia,
Africa, and South America.
Most
of the time, prostate cancer grows very slowly, but
can sometimes grow quickly, spreading to other parts
of the body. Cancer cells can enter the lymph system
and spread to lymph nodes (small, bean-shaped collections
of cells that help in fighting infections). If cancer
is in the lymph nodes, it has likely spread to other
organs as well.
Because
the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unknown,
it is not known whether the disease can be prevented.
A high-fat diet may be linked to prostate cancer, so
a diet low in animal fat and high in vegetables, fruits,
and grains is recommended. Tomatoes, grapefruit, and
watermelon are rich in a substance (lycopenes) that
helps prevent damage to DNA and may help lower prostate
cancer risk.
Beginning
at age 50, all men who have at least a 10-year life
expectancy should be offered both the PSA blood test
and a digital rectal exam annually. Men in high-risk
groups (African Americans, men with close family members
who have had prostate cancer) should begin testing at
45 years.
Colorectal
cancer begins in either the colon or the rectum, both
part of the digestive tract. In 2002, there will be
about 107,300 new cases of colon cancer and 41,000 new
cases of rectal cancer in the United States. Colon cancer
will cause about 48,100 deaths and rectal cancer about
8,500 deaths.
Cancer
can develop in any of the four sections of the colon
or in the rectum. Cancer beginning in these different
areas may cause different symptoms. Colorectal cancers
probably develop slowly over a period of several years.
Before a true cancer develops, there are often earlier
changes in the lining of the colon or rectum. One type
of change is a growth of tissue called a polyp. Removing
the polyp early may prevent it from becoming cancer.
It
is important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and
whole grain foods and to limit the amount of red meats
you eat, especially those high in fat. Some studies
suggest that taking a daily multivitamin containing
folic acid or folate can lower colorectal cancer risk.
Other studies suggest that getting calcium with supplements
or low-fat dairy products can help, and that getting
enough exercise is important as well.
Beginning
at age 50, both men and women should follow one of these
five screening options:
Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
Yearly fecal occult blood test plus sigmoidoscopy
every 5 years
Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years
Colonoscopy every 10 years
4.
Pancreas
The
pancreas is found behind the stomach and functions as
two separate glands. Some cells in the gland make pancreatic
juice, which contains enzymes that break down fats and
proteins so the body can use them for growth and repair.
Other cells in the pancreas, known as islets, release
two hormones that help control the amount of sugar in
the blood. Both kinds of pancreatic cells can form tumors,
but those formed by the first type (called the exocrine
pancreas) are more common and more likely to be cancerous.
In
2002, an estimated 30,300 people in the United States
will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 29,700
will die of the disease. As these numbers indicate,
pancreatic cancer is deadly; about 2 out of 10 patients
with cancer of the pancreas will live at least 1 year
after the cancer is found, but only a very few will
survive for 5 years.
The
best advice for prevention is to avoid smoking and to
eat a healthful diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables
while cutting down on high-fat foods from animal sources.
However, many people with the disease do not have any
risk factors and could not have prevented it.
Non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma is cancer that starts in lymphoid tissue (also
called lymphatic tissue), which is important for filtering
germs and cancer cells as well as fluid from the extremities
and internal organs. Other types of cancer can spread
to lymphoid tissue, but these cancers are not lymphomas.
About 53,900 Americans (28,200 men and 25,700 women)
will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and approximately
24,400 Americans (12,700 men and 11,700 women) will
die of this cancer in 2002. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is
more common in men than in women. Whites are affected
more often than African Americans or Asian Americans.
Although
some types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are among the most
common childhood cancers, over 95% of non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma cases occur in adults. The average age at diagnosis
is in the early 40s. The risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma increases throughout life, and the elderly
have the highest risk. The increasing average age of
the American population is expected to contribute to
the increase in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases during
the next few years.
Most
people with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have no known risk
factors and, there is no way to prevent their lymphomas
from developing. For now, the only opportunity for prevention
of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is by preventing known risk
factors such as acquired immune system deficiencies
(AIDS).