Some of the cancers that most often affect men are prostate, colorectal, lung, and skin cancers. Knowing about these cancers and what you can do to help prevent them or find them early (when they are small, haven’t spread, and might be easier to treat) may help save your life.
Men & Cancer
It’s of great concern that the number of men being diagnosed with late stage cancer is on the rise.
Knowledge is power and can change the lives of men drastically if they are aware of early warning signs and symptoms of male cancers.
Men need to be pro-active about their health and should recognise warning signs. We encourage monthly testicular self-examinations, annual medical check-ups and cancer screening for early detection, as symptoms don’t always present until cancer has spread. Men also need to lead a balanced lifestyle, cutting out lifestyle factors that increase their cancer risk.
Use CANSA’s Online Lifestyle Risk Assessment Tool to evaluate your lifestyle.
We urge men and male cancer Survivors to encourage one another to invest in their health and to ask their doctor for advice on specific cancer screening tests relevant to their age, medical and family history.
CANSA focuses the spotlight on prostate cancer, the most common male cancer globally and locally and showing significant increases.* According to the National Cancer Registry, South African men have a 1:17 risk for being diagnosed in their lifetime. International and local research indicates that the risk for aggressive prostate cancer is higher in black men.
Read Media Release | Infographics | eNewsletter
Contact your local CANSA Care Centre for health awareness materials and arrange for screening for prostate, colorectal or skin cancer, or ask about scheduled visits to provide screening via our MANVan and Mobile Health Clinics, if you live in a remote area.
We provide a counselling service dedicated to providing advice to cancer Survivors. Speak to a counsellor at your local CANSA Care Centre or call our Help Desk on 0800 22 6622 to make an appointment for Tele Counselling, or email us at counselling@cansa.org.za. You can also join our Champions of Hope Facebook Group for cancer Survivors & chat to peers who are facing similar challenges. Find general information regarding cancer, cancer types, treatment, support and risk reduction and information regarding male cancers prevalent in South Africa below.