Men are less likely to get screened for cancer despite higher mortality rates. Here's what three critical screenings can catch early.
Men are significantly less likely to be screened for cancer than women, even though they face higher cancer mortality rates. The good news: three major cancer screenings can catch disease early when treatment is most effective. Prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and colorectal cancer are the top three cancers affecting men, and all three are highly treatable when detected in early stages.
Which Cancers Should Men Screen For?
The three cancers most commonly affecting men require different screening approaches and age recommendations. Understanding your risk factors and when to start screening is essential for catching these diseases at their most treatable stages.
- Prostate Cancer: The most common cancer in American men, affecting one in eight men during their lifetime, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men.
- Testicular Cancer: Most common in men between 15 and 34 years old, with an average diagnosis age of about 33, though it can occur at any age.
- Colorectal Cancer: The third most common cancer type outside of skin cancers in the United States, traditionally affecting people older than 50, though rates are rising in younger men.
What Does Prostate Cancer Screening Actually Involve?
Prostate cancer often has no early symptoms, which is why screening is so important. "Since early prostate cancers have little or no symptoms, screening tests are needed to find the life-threatening forms at a curable stage," explains Dr. Matthew Brennan, a hematologist-oncologist at Penn Medicine.
The prostate gland produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Doctors use two main screening methods: a simple blood test that measures PSA levels, and a digital rectal exam. PSA levels often rise before other symptoms of prostate cancer appear, making regular testing valuable.
Men should start discussing PSA screening with their doctor at age 55. However, men at higher risk should begin earlier conversations with their physician. This includes men who are 40 years old, have a family history of prostate cancer, or are African American.
Why Is Early Detection So Critical for Testicular Cancer?
Testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers when caught early. Men diagnosed and treated in early stages have a 97 to 100 percent chance of being cured. The American Cancer Society estimates that 9,190 men will be diagnosed in 2023, with only about 470 men dying from the disease.
The challenge is that many men delay seeking medical evaluation after noticing changes. The most common screening method is a monthly testicular self-exam that men can perform at home. Unfortunately, after noticing a change in a testicle, many men wait several months before seeing a doctor, allowing the disease to advance and potentially requiring more intensive treatment.
How Effective Is Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Prevention?
Colorectal cancer screening has transformed outcomes for this disease. Thanks to increased awareness around colonoscopy screenings, the death rate from colorectal cancer has dropped in recent years. Roughly 90 percent of colorectal cancer cases can be prevented with adequate colonoscopy screening, often saving lives.
Men can begin colonoscopy screenings at 45 years of age, unless they have increased risk factors for colorectal cancer, in which case they should discuss earlier screening with their doctor. The procedure is particularly valuable because colorectal cancer can be prevented altogether when polyps are removed before they develop into cancer.
"Colorectal cancer is probably something most millennials don't think about," notes a hematologist-oncologist with Penn Medicine in Lancaster. "But data show why it's more important than ever to be aware of colorectal cancer symptoms and risk factors and to talk to your doctor if you notice changes in your digestive health".
Colorectal cancer is often beatable when detected and treated in early stages. While no screening test is 100 percent perfect, colonoscopy remains the best method of screening for most individuals.
When Should You Schedule Your First Screening?
Annual check-ups and wellness appointments are the ideal time to discuss cancer screening with your doctor. Your physician will tell you when it's time to be screened based on your age, family history, and individual risk factors. Starting these conversations early—even if you don't meet the standard screening age—can help catch cancer at its most treatable stage.
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