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Men and cancer
What men should know about cancer
You are important. Your health is important. Caring about your family means caring about your own health too.
Have you ever thought this, said it or heard it?
“I don’t like to go to the doctor. I never get sick, so why would I?”
“I don’t want somebody telling me not to smoke or drink.”
“I don’t want someone handling my privates or doing a rectal exam.”
Many men feel this way. Trouble is, cancer doesn’t care how you feel.
Knowing the types of cancers men can get and learning to identify the early signs of cancer can cut down the risk of getting cancer.
![]() 7 warning signs of cancer
These signs do not mean you have cancer, but there are some changes happening in your body. If you have any of these signs for more than a few weeks, you should see your doctor or clinic as soon as possible. |
Prostate cancer
How to find it early
Bowel cancer
- seeing blood in your goona
- being blocked up (constipation)
- having the runs (diarrhoea) for longer than 2 weeks.
How to find it early
You can use a bowel cancer screening kit at home. This quick and easy test looks for tiny amounts of blood in your goona. It’s called a faecal occult blood test (FOBT), and it’s part of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
If you are aged 50–74, you will probably get a free kit in the mail or your clinic nurse/doctor will give you the kit. After you do the test, you send the kit back using the envelope provided. The results will be sent to you and your doctor within 2 weeks.
Lung and mouth cancer
Many people know that smoking causes lung cancer, but they may not know that tobacco can lead to mouth cancer.
How to find it early
These types of cancer can be hard to spot early. If you have any of the signs below, talk to your doctor or clinic.
Signs of lung cancer – a cough that doesn’t go away, coughing up blood
Signs of mouth cancer – sores in the mouth that don’t go away, white or red areas in your mouth, difficulty swallowing or pain in the mouth.
Testicular cancer
How to find it early
- a hard, painless pea-size lump on the front or side of the testicle
- a bigger than usual testicle
- a heavy feeling or dull ache in the groin
- an unusual difference between one testicle and the other
Bladder cancer
This is most common in men 60–90.
Smoking is the main cause of bladder cancer.
How to find it early
Needing to pee often and finding blood in your pee are signs of bladder cancer. If you have any of these signs, talk to your doctor or clinic.
Breast cancer
Men can get breast cancer too, although it is rare.
How to find it early
Talk to your doctor if there are any changes in your breast or nipple such as sores, swelling, lumps or discharge.