Most Common Cancer Among Men and Their Signs and Symptoms

Some of the well-identified factors, which increases the chances of development of Prostate Cancer are – Age above 65 years, Men of African ancestry (compared to the male of other ethnicities), Family history, Increased weight (Obesity) and diets high in red meat & low in vegetables and fruits.

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancers are usually asymptomatic in the early stages. However, as time progresses, it does give rise to signs and symptoms, due to increase in size or involvement of distant organs. Some of them are –

• Increase in frequency of urination, which may be associated with pain or burning.
• Having trouble urinating. There may be difficulty in starting the process or stopping the urine stream. Dribbling may be present. The urine flow, itself may be weak or interrupted. The person may be forced to strain during the process. Sometimes there may be a loss of control over urination.
• Difficulty in urinating when standing may require the person to want to sit.
• Painful urination or ejaculation.
• Blood in the urine.
• Erectile dysfunction

Spread to distant organs, in the late stages, can present with the following signs and symptoms –

• Pain in the bones, especially in the lower back.

• Weight loss, that does not have any other well defined reasons.
• Weakness and shortness of breath, during normal activities.
• Swelling of lower limbs
• Unexplained fracture of bones.

Prevention of Prostate Cancer

It is almost impossible to do anything which would guarantee a person, freedom from Prostate Cancer, but certain precautionary measures certainly decrease its chances. Choosing a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, providing vitamins and minerals adequately is a step-in right direction. Maintaining a healthy weight, with the help of exercise is also helpful.

Prostate cancer can be found early by screening tests. This include – testing the amount of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels in a person’s blood and digital rectal examination by a trained urologist or surgeon. Prostate Cancer screening should never be undertaken, without prior consultation with a Urologist (a specialist who treats diseases of the urinary system). In case of development of signs & symptoms mentioned above, a consultation with a Urologist should be undertaken, without any delay.

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer is cancer, which begins in the lungs and is one of the leading causes of cancer death, both among men and women. Like all cancers, in Lung cancer too, cells grow and multiply in an uncontrolled and unregulated manner. Lung cancer assumes significance as here the pattern of cellular overgrowth occurs in the lungs, which are vital organs for breathing and gaseous exchange. As lung cancer also spreads to distant organs (metastasize) in its early stages, so it is very dangerous and life-threatening cancer and also one of the most difficult cancers to treat.

Causes and Risk Factors of Lung Cancers

Cigarette smoking is the main reason causing most of the Lung Cancers, with 90% of the cases rising due to tobacco use. The risk of cancer development increases with thenumber (amount) and duration of use. This is also referred to, in the medical language as pack-years of smoking (number of cigarette packets smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked). Tobacco smoke has in total over 4000 chemical compounds, but the 2 main primary compounds which have been blamed as cancer-causing are – Nitrosamines and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Cigar & pipe smoking can also cause lung cancer, although risks are less compared to cigarette smoking. Even non-smokers, who live with a smoker have demonstrated 24% increased risk (for development of lung cancer) compared to non-smokers, who do not have any such influence. So, exposure to tobacco smoke should be avoided at all cost, and it is always better to not even pick up the habit in the first place. For those who stop smoking, it takes somewhere around 15 years to reach the risk level as that of non-smokers.

People who are exposed to asbestos fibers (& also arsenic, chromium,and nickel), in their workplace are also susceptible for development of lung cancer later in life. Smoking increases the chances of development of cancer tremendously, in workers exposed to asbestos. Thankfully in the modern world, asbestos use has been banned in many countries. A natural radioactive gas – Radon gas, has also been implicated as a known cause of lung cancer.

Presence of other lung diseases like – pulmonary fibrosis & chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases increases the risk of development of lung cancer. Another problem of the modern world – Air pollution from industry and vehicles, especially diesel exhaust; is associated with the increased chances of development of lung cancer, especially in the developing world. The fact that even all people exposed to above-mentioned risk factors, do not develop cancers, have made many scientists believe that individual genetic susceptibility and familial predisposition may also play a role in the development of cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer

The symptoms may be variable, depending on the location & extent of spread of cancer. Unfortunately, early warning signs are not always present and it may be accidentally discovered in a routine chest X-ray, where it presents as a round tumor that looks like a coin. However, when the symptoms are present, they initially present as complaints of the respiratory system. Some of them are –

• Development of a cough, that does not decrease with time.
• Shortness of breath, wheezing & chest pain.
• Coughing up blood.

When the nearby structures are affected, some other symptoms may also develop.

• Involvement of nerves may cause shoulder pain or paralysis of vocal cords (that, in turn, may lead to hoarseness of voice).
• Involvement of Pleura can cause fluid to accumulate in the chest cavity (Pleural Effusion).
• Difficulty in swallowing may occur if an oesophageal invasion occurs.
• Obstruction of large airways can cause the collapse of a portion of the lung and frequent chest infections, like – pneumonia and abscesses.

Involvement of distant organs, known as metastasis, can cause symptoms far removed from the site of origin of the problem. Some of them are –

• Cancer that has spread to bone may produce severe bone pain, at the sites of bone involvement.
• If cancer has invaded the brain, then neurological symptoms like – headache, seizures, blurred vision and symptoms of stroke, such as weakness & loss of sensation may be produced.

Sometimes, symptoms are produced, due to the production of hormones by the tumor cells. These symptoms are known as paraneoplastic symptoms, and can again give rise to its own set of complaints, due to abnormally increased hormone levels.

Prevention of Lung Cancer

There is no definite way to prevent Lung Cancer, but some lifestyle alterations are certainly helpful.

It is always better never to start smoking and those who already smoke should stop it. If needed professional guidance should be taken to get rid of this addiction. Using nicotine replacement products & help of support groups are also useful. Avoiding second-hand smoke is also important for those who do not smoke themselves.

Avoiding carcinogenic exposure at the workplace, having radon levels in home checked (if a person is living in an area, where high radon levels are known to be associated with creating problems), taking a diet full of vegetables and fruits;are also good supportive measures.

Urgent consultation with a healthcare professional should be taken if – there is a new development of persistent cough, breathing difficulties, repeated chest infection, chest pain or blood in sputum is present. People who smoke can request their doctors for screenings for lung cancer with a low dose CT scan annually.

The treatment of lung cancer would need a team approach, but it is always better to approach a chest physician (medical pulmonologist) first, who can later involve medical, radiation & surgical oncologist in the treatment.

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is cancer that arises in the colon or rectum of the human gastrointestinal tract, quite often as a polyp-like growth, which later turns cancerous. Sometimes they are also known as colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on their site of origin. These 2 cancers are usually grouped together because of many common features, that they display. Although it is one of the leading causes of cancer death, its importance lies in the fact that advances in the screening techniques have been successful in bringing down the death rate from colorectal cancer.

Causes and Risk Factors of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer risk factors, like risk factors of many other cancers, have aspects that can be changed while some others are not under control. Knowing them in detail can help in making lifestyle changes, which can decrease the risk to a great extent.

• Being overweight and having a large waistline certainly increases the risk of developing colon and rectal cancer.
• Physical inactivity also has been seen to be associated with increased risk.
• A diet high in red meat, and especially cooking the meat at high temperature (frying & grilling) increases the risk. Conversely, a diet high in fiber decreases the risk.
• People who smoke and drink heavily have shown increased cancer incidence.

Unfortunately, there are many other risk factors that are beyond a person’s control. However, prior knowledge about them can certainly allow a person to be more aware. Some of these are –

• Increasing age, especially age above 50 years makes a person more susceptible to the development of cancer.
• Having chronic inflammatory bowel disease, like – Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis also increases the risk.
• Previous history of the presence of polyps in colon or rectum, which may later become cancerous.
• The family history of Colorectal cancer
• Type 2 diabetes also increases the risk of colorectal cancer.
• Previous history of Uterine, Ovarian or Breast cancer.
• Inherited gene changes (mutations) causing family cancer syndromes, like – hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and some other rarer syndromes increases the risks significantly.
• Radiation therapy directed at abdomen to treat some other cancer also increases the chances of developing colorectal cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

As colorectal cancer rises in the alimentary system, hence the signs and symptoms produced by Colorectal Cancer, also present with complaints of the digestive tract. Some of them are –

• Bowel habits are changed and diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool can occur without any other well defined cause.

• Even after passing stool, a sense of incomplete evacuation may remain.
• Even without the intake of any food, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen may remain.
• Bleeding from the rectum may take place, that is bright red in color and the person may have anemia.
• Sometimes the stool may be dark in color.
• Abdominal pain and bloating may be present.
• Unexplained weakness.
• Unexplained weight loss may be present in the late stages.
• A lump in the abdomen may be felt by a healthcare professional in the late stages.

Prevention of Colorectal Cancer

Although there are no measures, that can guarantee 100% safety from the chances of development of cancer, some precautionary measures are surely worth mentioning.

• Having a diet rich in a variety of vegetables, fruits,and whole grains; which would provide adequate fibers, vitamins, minerals & antioxidants is always better than a diet rich in red meat and saturated fats. Ingestion of avocado, fish oils, nuts & olive oil is also believed to be beneficial.

• Smoking and alcohol ingestion should be ideally stopped.
• Maintaining a healthy weight and opting for regular exercises adds beneficial effects.
• Regular screening for colon cancer is also advisable for patients (especially after 50 years), who fall in under highrisk group (Family history, patients of inflammatory bowel diseases, previous history of similar cancers). With regular screening, the suspicious polyps, which may change to cancer,later on, can be removed, before they have a chance to turn. Even cancer lesions can be detected earlier, by screening, when it is much smaller & easier to treat.

Cancer of Urinary Bladder

The urinary bladder is a hollow organ present in the pelvis of the human body, that serves as a storage organ of urine, collecting it from the kidney via ureter, before finally expelling it out of the body through the urethra, when the ideal opportunity presents itself. Cancer of Urinary bladder denotes an uncontrolled abnormal growth developing in the urinary bladder.

Cause and Risk factors of Cancer of Urinary Bladder

Like previously mentioned cancers, researchers do not know the exact cause of bladder cancer, but many associated risks factors &cancer-causing mechanisms have been identified. Some of the avoidable ones are -

• Smoking is one of the most important risk factors, associated with Bladder cancer. The reason for this is that smoke of cigarettes, pipes & cigars, contains many harmful chemicals. The body tries to process these dangerous elements & attempts to excrete it out of the body via the urine. The chemicals have the ability to damage the bladder lining, which increases the chances of cancer.
• Workplace exposure to hazardous industrial chemicals has been seen to increase the chances of cancer of urinary bladder developing. Chemicals used in the dye industry like – benzidine and betanaphthylamine, have been found to be particularly incriminating. Some other worker categories, who also exhibit a higher risk for urinary bladder cancer are – painters, printers, machinists, hairdressers (exposure to hair dye) & truck drivers (exposure to diesel fumes).

• Some medicines (like – antidiabetic medicine pioglitazone and chemotherapeutic drug like cyclophosphamide) or herbal supplements, radiation to the pelvis, also increases the risk of bladder cancer.
• Not drinking enough liquids or drinking water contaminated with arsenic (which occurs in some parts of the world) has been linked with a higher risk of bladder cancer.

  Unfortunately, there are also some risk factors, which can’t be avoided; but knowing about them does enable a person to be more cautious. Some of these are –

• Caucasians have more probability of developing this type of cancer, compared to other ethnicities.
• Chances of developing cancer increases as a person gets older.
• Males are more prone to develop cancer than females.
• Chronic bladder irritation (caused by irritants like bladder stones or longterm use of a urinary catheter) and infections (especially by parasitic worms – Schistosomiasis) have also been linked with bladder cancer.
• Urinary bladder birth defects, like – exstrophy and urachus, also have been associated with cancer.
• The family history of bladder cancer or a personal history of previous cancer in any part of the urinary tract is one of the rare causes of bladder cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Bladder Cancer

• In the majority of the cases, blood in the urine is the first presenting symptom of bladder cancer. The quantity of blood contained may be of a significant amount to change the color of the urine or may be very small, so as to go undetected, without specific pathological examination. Unfortunately, the presence of blood in urine may not be detected in all samples, every time the urine is collected, which may give the patient a false sense of security.

• Change in bladder habits may also occur. These may manifest itself as

1) Increase in the frequency of micturition, which may be associated with pain or burning.

2) Inability to control urine, once the urge arises.

3) Feeling the urge to go to the toilet even when the bladder is not full.

4) The urine stream may be weak.

5) The need to go to the toilet many times in the night.

6) Distended bladder, with an inability to pass urine due to obstruction produced by a tumor.

Quite often, many of the symptoms mentioned are not due to cancer, but other associated pathologies like – infection, bladder stone or enlarged prostate. However, a thorough workup is needed in all cases.

• Cancer that spreads to distant organs, can create symptoms located far from the bladder. These may be – lower back pain, loss of appetite & weight loss, unexplained weakness, bone pain and swelling in the feet.  If lungs are involved, cough (along with blood in sputum) may be produced.

Prevention of Urinary Bladder Cancer

There are no guaranteed ways available, to prevent bladder cancer, however certain steps can be taken to decrease its probability. The best way for prevention is to avoid factors, that are responsible for causing the disease. To avoid smoking (and to stop, for those who have already started) is one of the best preventive measures.

Avoiding exposure to cancer-causing chemicals by workers of high-risk industries is another advisable step, that can be easily enforced. All safety instructions to avoid exposure should be strictly enforced. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which would contain sufficient antioxidants may help in reducing the risk of Cancer.

If a person develops any difficulty in urination or passage of blood in urine, urgent consultation with a urologist should be undertaken, at the earliest. A screening test to detect disease, in people who have no symptom, may be undertaken (after medical consultation) in people who are at very high risk, like – People with a past history of bladder cancer, people who are regularly exposed to certain dangerous chemicals & people born with certain birth defects of the bladder.

Melanoma – The Most Dangerous Skin Cancer

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, that develops in the melanocytes – the cells that produce the pigment (melanin) which gives skin its color. Melanomas quite often resemble moles & sometimes even develops from moles. Majority of this type of cancer, are either black or brown in color, but rarely they can be also red, pink, blue, purple or even be white in color.

Causes and Risk factors of Melanoma

Melanoma is caused by intense Ultra Violet ray exposure, in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease. These cancerous growths mostly develop when ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds causes damage to the DNA of skin cells, and these skin cells with a geneticdefect, rapidly multiply to form malignant tumors. The origin of this cancer is from pigment-producing melanocytes, which are present in the basal layer of the epidermis.

Certain skin conditions increase the chances of development of melanoma later on. Some of these are – Skin having a high number of moles & freckles, the presence of 5 or more atypical moles, the presence of actinic lentigines & giant congenital melanocytic nevuspredisposes a person to develop Melanoma later on.

People having fair skin have less pigment in their skin, which gives them less protection from damage of UV radiation. This makes them more prone to developing melanoma. Similarly, people with Light colored hair or light-colored eyesalso have more chance of developing melanoma.

Increasing age, high sun exposure with a history of sunburn, living near the equator or at high altitudes, having a family history of melanoma, personal history of any other skin cancer or having an organ transplant (with the weakening of immune system) also increases the risk of getting melanoma.

However, melanoma can develop not just in fair skinned person but also in people of African ancestry & Hispanics. Moreover, Melanoma can also occur in places of the human body that doesn’t receive exposure to sunlight. These facts highlight that there are still many aspects of this disease that, are still unexplained.

Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma

Although melanoma can develop anywhere in the body, they mostly develop in areas exposed to the Sun, like – face, arms, backs and legs. They can also occur in areas that are not directly exposed to Sun (hidden areas) like soles of feet, palms of hands, fingernail beds; in people with darker skin.

Alteration in the appearance of the skin should be a symptom, which should arouse the suspicion that something may be wrong. The appearance of a new spot or mole on the skin or change in color/shape/size of an existing mole should be looked at with skepticism.

A skin spot which becomes itchy, painful, tender (change in sensation) and bleeds; or if an area becomes shiny, waxy, or smooth; or a sore that does not heal - should be taken as an ominous sign unless proven otherwise.

A common way of differentiating between an ordinary mole or a mole, which is becoming cancerous, is to check for signs, described in short by mnemonic – ABCDE.  The cancerous mole is Asymmetric in shape, have irregular& uneven Border, uneven shades and Colours, larger and more than a quarter inch in Diameter, continuously Evolving or changing in appearance over a period of weeks or months. The normal moles have exactly opposing features, than what has been described above for cancerous moles.

Melanoma can also sometimes rise in uvea of the eye. This kind of ocular melanoma can cause visual changes & can be detected during an eye examination by an ophthalmologist.

Rarely melanoma can arise in the mucous membrane lining nose, mouth, esophagus, urinary tract, vagina,and anus. These mucosal melanomas are difficult to detect & confused most often with other health conditions.

Prevention of Malignant Melanoma

Avoiding excessive and harmful exposure to Ultraviolet radiation (from the Sun) can reduce the incidence of skin cancer considerably. Protection from harmful effects of sunrays can be taken by – wearing protective clothing& avoiding sunburn; using sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15,avoiding going out under sun between 10am to 4pm when the Sun’s rays are the strongest. Avoiding tanning lamps and beds that emit UV rays can decrease the risk of skin Cancer.

Conclusion

As the saying goes – “A stitch in time, saves nine”. Basic knowledge and awareness in the general population can go a far way in decreasing morbidity and mortality of many diseases, including Cancers. The above-mentioned cancers are not just the most common cancers afflicting males but also puts a severe load on healthcare resources. Increased awareness regarding these common cancers, can help in their detection in much earlier stages, which can avert disaster in many cases.

People should always be extracautious when it comes to concerns regarding their health. Consultation with healthcare professionals should never be postponed & in no cases, a self-diagnosis or self-treatment should be attempted. Making the correct lifestyle choices, using judicious self-introspection & taking timely decision can help in saving a life even in those cases, where the diseases are otherwise deemed incurable.

(Disclaimer – The above discussion is just for raising cancer awareness in public & is in no way an alternative to direct consultation with registered medical practitioners, for those who need it. As mentioned above, in no case a person should try to self diagnose & self treat a medicinal problem, without any medical supervision.)