Men Don’t Talk About This Enough: Cancers Men Often Ignore - Dr Deepak Koppaka

Cancer remains one of the world’s most pressing health challenges, yet certain cancers disproportionately affect men and receive surprisingly little sustained public attention.

Globally, men have a higher overall cancer incidence and mortality compared to women. According to the World Health Organization, men are approximately 25 % more likely to develop cancer and 40 % more likely to die from it than women. These disparities are not just biological; they reflect patterns in screening uptake, symptom recognition, and health-seeking behaviour.

Increasing awareness of cancers that men often overlook is critical to early detection, better treatment outcomes, and reducing preventable deaths.

Prostate Cancer: The Invisible Majority

Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among men worldwide. Data from the Global Cancer Observatory indicate that prostate cancer accounts for nearly 14 % of all male cancer cases. Despite its prevalence, routine screening remains inconsistent.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal exams have transformed early detection, yet many men are unaware of their screening options or the age at which screening becomes most beneficial typically starting at age 50, or earlier with family history.

Evidence shows that screen-detected prostate cancers are more likely to be localised and treatable, yet a significant proportion of men decline screening because they perceive symptoms as benign or inevitable.

Testicular Cancer: High Treatability, Low Conversation

Testicular cancer is less common than prostate cancer, but its demographic impact is striking. It is the most common cancer in men aged 15-40, and yet conversations around it are limited, especially in clinical practice outside specialised clinics. Early detection drives survival: when diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 95 %.

Testicular self-examination is a simple, patient-performed practice well supported by clinical guidance, yet usage is inconsistent. Increasing patient education on how and when to perform self-examinations can dramatically improve early diagnosis among this age group.

Lung Cancer: Beyond Smoking

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in men globally. While tobacco smoke is the dominant risk factor, accounting for the majority of cases, it is a misconception that only smokers develop this disease. Occupational exposures (eg: asbestos, silica), air pollution and genetic predispositions also play measurable roles.

Symptoms such as persistent cough, unexplained shortness of breath, or recurrent respiratory infections are often mistaken for benign conditions.

However, lung cancer detected at an early stage offers a significantly improved prognosis, with emerging screening guidelines recommending low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for high-risk individuals. The challenge lies in expanding access and patient awareness of these screening opportunities.

Colorectal Cancer: Shifting Age Patterns

Colorectal cancer incidence is increasing among younger adults in many regions. Recent registry data show an upward trend in diagnoses among individuals under 50 an age bracket not traditionally considered high-risk. Despite this shift, screening recommendations in many countries still begin at age 45-50, creating a gap in early detection for younger men presenting with symptoms.

Unlike asymptomatic screening, symptomatic presentation often reflects more advanced disease. Blood in the stool, persistent abdominal discomfort, and changes in bowel habits are often dismissed or delayed in reporting. Clinicians and patients alike must recalibrate suspicion thresholds to ensure that these signs are evaluated promptly, irrespective of age.

The Data on Outcomes and Behaviour

A consistent pattern emerges across multiple studies: earlier detection equals better outcomes. For example:

• Men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer have near-normal life expectancy with appropriate management.

• Early-stage lung cancer significantly increases the likelihood of curative surgical intervention.

• Colorectal cancers discovered through routine screening show the highest five-year survival rates compared to symptom-prompted detections.

Yet real-world screening uptake remains suboptimal. In many high-income countries, only a fraction of eligible men participate in recommended screening programmes for prostate, lung, or colorectal cancer. In lower-resource settings, access barriers further exacerbate these gaps.

Structural and Communication Barriers

Disparities in screening and early detection are not solely the result of individual choices. Structural factors play a significant role:

• Healthcare access and affordability influence screening patterns and follow-up care.

• Public health messaging often prioritises breast and cervical cancer screening, with less emphasis on male-predominant cancers.

• Clinical practice patterns may not consistently offer or recommend guideline-based screening discussions in primary care settings.

These systemic gaps underscore the need for integrated awareness campaigns, clinician education, and policy frameworks that prioritise cancer screening for men as a public health imperative.

Systemic Awareness and Proactive Care

Addressing cancers that men often ignore requires a multi-layered approach:

1. Routine Clinical Engagement

Providers should proactively discuss cancer screening with male patients, outlining risks, benefits, and age-appropriate recommendations.

2. Population-Level Education

Public health campaigns must elevate awareness of male-predominant cancers, emphasising symptom recognition and available early-detection tools.

3. Screening Accessibility

Health systems should work to remove barriers to screening whether financial, logistical, or informational to broaden participation.

4. Data-Driven Policy

Policymakers must incorporate emerging epidemiological trends (e.g., rising young-adult colorectal cancer) into screening guidelines and resource allocation.

Cancer does not manifest in isolation; it exists within a landscape shaped by behaviour, access, and informed decision-making. As clinicians and healthcare systems, our role is not only to treat disease but to anticipate it through measurement, education, and strategic action.

Men are disproportionately affected by several high-impact cancers, yet discussion and early engagement remain limited. By reframing the conversation around evidence, screening, and patient empowerment, we can improve early detection, enhance treatment outcomes, and reduce the societal burden of disease.

The data are clear: cancers are most treatable when identified early. The question we must ask next is not why don’t men talk about these cancers, but how do we ensure they are systematically identified before it’s too late?

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.