About

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun (or tanning beds) is the main cause of melanoma.  Anyone who is exposed to UV is at risk, but your chance of developing it is much higher if you:

1. Have fair/light skin, blonde/red hair, and/or blue eyes
2. Are sensitive to the sun (burn easily, no tan)
3. Were ever diagnosed with skin cancer in the past
4. Have many moles or birthmarks on your body
5. Have a family history of melanoma
6. Are taking certain medications (ask your healthcare provider)
7. Are a Caucasian male
8. Had sunburn in the childhood and adolescent years

Fact:  Those with a darker skin color are not immune. Although less common, African Americans can also develop melanoma, usually on the palms of their hands and soles of their feet.

If caught early and treated, melanoma is almost always curable. However, men usually wait longer than women before getting their skin checked and are nearly twice as likely to die from melanoma. Caucasians and older men have a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population.

• Every year, about 75,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma; about 10,000 of them die — that’s an average of one every hour.

FYI

There are five stages of melanoma:

1. Stage 0 – (melanoma in situ) – melanoma on top layer of skin
2. Stage I – melanoma spread deeper into skin (less than 1 mm thick)
3. Stage II – melanoma spread deeper into skin (more than 1 mm thick) but not into lymph nodes or other parts of the body
4. Stage III – melanoma spread from skin and to nearby lymph nodes in the body
5. Stage IV – (metastatic melanoma) – melanoma spread throughout the body, from skin to lymph nodes and certain organs, including the lungs, liver, bones, and brain

Symptoms

Keep an eye out for moles or birthmarks that look unusual. The ABCs of melanoma (below) can help you spot potential problems. Also, look out for ones that itch, hurt, bleed, or ooze.

1. Asymmetry: one half does not look like the other half.
2. Border: irregular, jagged, uneven edges
3. Color: more than one color (tan, brown, black, white, red, or blue)
4. Diameter: size of mole bigger than pencil eraser (6mm)
5. Evolving : changes color, size, or thickness

Prevention

It’s important to take every possible precaution to protect yourself.

1. Apply Sunscreen. Sunscreen is not “for women only”—and it could save your life. Make sure the bottle says “Broad Spectrum SPF” and “UVA/UVB.” (SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Sunlight is made of UVA and UVB rays; UVA reaches deep into our skin and ages us, while UVB burns the top layer of our skin).

Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you go outside, and don’t forget about your nose, ears, lips, top of head, and toes (if you’re wearing sandals or will be barefoot). If you’re planning to be outside for a while, use a waterproof sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours. UV light is present even on cloudy, rainy, and snowy days, so be sure to use sunscreen every day.

2. Get a New Hat. Baseball caps shield your forehead and your face, but they don’t protect the sides of your face or the back of your neck. So if you’re going to be out in the sun, wear a hat with a wide brim all the way around.

3. Cover Up. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts, and pants that cover up as much of your skin as possible. Yes, even on hot days.

4. Wear Wraparound Sunglasses. Make sure they provide 100% UV protection.

5. Stay Away from Sun Lamps and/or Tanning Beds. Tanning beds are popular with young people. Regular use can increase the risk of developing melanoma greatly! Even occasional use increases the risk.

Keep Cool. When outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible, especially between 10 am to 4 pm, when the sun is highest and UV rays are strongest.

Diagnosis

If you see a questionable mole or other mark, call your healthcare provider immediately. Through a series of tests, your healthcare provider will determine whether the mole is benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). In addition, he or she will:

• Take your medical history.
• Examine your skin.
• Biopsy any suspicious spots or moles (a biopsy is removing a small piece and examining it under a microscope to see whether it’s cancerous).
• If your healthcare provider finds a cancerous area, he or she may order additional tests to see how severe the cancer is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. These may include:
  • Blood tests
  • Imaging tests (chest x-rays or CT/MRI/PET scans)
  • Genetic testing

Again, melanoma can spread very quickly, so the sooner you get an expert to examine you, the better. Acting quickly may save your life!

Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider

1. Please explain the different types of skin cancer? How is melanoma different?
2. What stage is my melanoma? What does this mean?
3. What are my treatment options and what do you recommend?
4. Will I need to take other tests before we decide on the best treatment option?
5. Are there short and long-term side effects. If so, what are they?
6. How often should I see you for follow-up appointments?
7. Are there any symptoms I should look out for in between follow-up appointments?
8. What clinical trials are available to me?

Treatments

If the melanoma is in the early stages, it’s usually treated with surgery (cutting off the mole and the tissue around it) at a dermatologist’s (skin doctor) office. Depending on how advanced the melanoma is, the surgery may be followed by one or more systemic therapies to kill all cancer cells in the body (systemic therapies affect cells all over your body). Your healthcare provider and oncologist (a doctor who specializes in cancer) will help you select the one that’s best for you.

1. Chemotherapy
   • Powerful drugs used to kill cancer cells in the entire body. There are a variety of chemotherapy strategies and options.

2. Immunotherapy (biologic therapy)
   • Boosts the body’s immune system to help fight the cancer cells. There are a variety of options available.

3. Lasers
   • A focused beam of light that can burn the melanoma away

4. Radiation Therapy
   • High-energy rays used to kill or shrink cancer cells

5. Targeted Therapy
   • Newer, personalized therapy for different types of metastatic melanoma
   • Targets and attacks the cancer cells that have abnormal changes (mutations) in specific genes (the BRAF, MEK, or KIT gene) without killing the healthy cells.

• The BRAF gene normally helps cells grow. Mutations in the BRAF gene cause cancer cells to grow out of control. ¹
• The MEK gene normally helps cells grow and move around. Mutations in the MEK gene cause cancer cells to grow out of control. ²
• The KIT gene normally helps control how fast cells grow and move around. ³

Fact:

• About half of all metastatic melanoma patients have mutations in the BRAF gene.
• 8% of melanomas have mutations in the MEK gene.
• 15% of melanomas have mutations in the KIT gene.

Please consult with your healthcare provider to discuss all of your therapy options and the potential side effects of each.

1. The abnormal BRAF gene can be treated using vemurafenib and dabrafenib.
2. The abnormal MEK gene can be treated using trametinib or a combination of trametinib and dabrafenib.
3. Mutations in the KIT gene can be treated using dasatinib, imatinib, or nilotinib.

Consider a Clinical Trial

Clinical trials are research studies where new drugs are tested on volunteer patients. Researchers are studying many of the treatments we’ve listed above, as well as new experimental treatments and vaccines for melanoma. More research on melanoma treatments is needed. If you’re diagnosed with melanoma, consider participating in clinical trials. Talk with your healthcare provider about which one might be right for you. Visit www.clinicaltrials.gov to see a list of available clinical trials.

Resources

American Academy of Dermatology
www.aad.org

American Melanoma Foundation
www.melanomafoundation.org

Skin Cancer Foundation
www.skincancer.org

Men’s Health Library – Melanoma
Melanoma Brochure

Men’s Health Network

About

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men.  Each year over 230,000 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and approximately 30,000 will die from the disease. However, prostate cancer can be cured if detected early.

Men at high risk (men with a family history of prostate cancer and African-American men) should begin yearly screening for prostate cancer at age 40 or earlier, all others at age 50.

FYI

RISK FACTORS 

Some factors that put you at risk of developing prostate cancer:

• Age:  Men over age 50 are at a higher risk.
• Family history: The risk is doubled if a father, brother or close male blood relative has had prostate cancer.
• Race: African-Americans have the highest rate of prostate cancer.
• Genes: Some common genetics have been linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer.
• Nutrition: Eating a meal plan low in fiber and high in fat and red meat has been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer.

CANCER STAGES

The stages of prostate cancer are described as I, II, III, or IV. Stage I is early-stage cancer, and Stage IV is advanced cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

The stage of the prostate cancer depends on:

• If the tumor has spread to nearby tissue, such as the bladder or rectum
• If prostate cancer cells have spread to lymph nodes, bones or other parts of the body
• The Gleason score (grade) – A low Gleason score means the tumor is less likely to spread; a high Gleason score means the tumor is more likely to spread
• The PSA level

Stage I – The cancer is only in the prostate. It might be too small to feel during a DRE (digital rectal exam).

Stage II – The tumor is more advanced, but doesn’t extend beyond the prostate.

Stage III – The tumor extends beyond the prostate and may have invaded a seminal vesicle, but has not spread to lymph nodes.

Stage IV – The tumor may have invaded the bladder or rectum, and may have spread to lymph nodes, bones, or other parts of the body. 

PROSTATE HEALTH & SEXUAL HEALTH

After prostate cancer treatment – prostatectomy, radiation therapy or hormone therapy – some patients may experience Erectile Dysfunction, or ED. Men with nerve damage from prostate cancer treatment might not respond as well to prescribed drugs as those with ED caused from other ailments. But some research suggests that men who use prescribed medications, starting within 6 months of prostate surgery, may have stronger erections over time in the absence of surgical nerve damage.

Information for women in dealing with the sensitive issues related to sexual health can be found here.

Symptoms

Early on, prostate cancer has no obvious symptoms. As the disease progresses you may feel the need to urinate more often, especially at night.

Once prostate cancer is advanced, symptoms include:

• Blood in the urine
• Trouble getting an erection
• Chronic pain in the hips, thighs, or lower back.

The lack of early symptoms and the overlap of symptoms with non-cancerous conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) make prostate cancer difficult to diagnose. That’s why it’s essential that you get screened regularly to find out what is causing bladder problems.

Prevention

Early prevention is essential to prostate health. Make sure and have your prostate checked yearly after age 50. If you are African American, have a family history or are a veteran exposed to Agent Orange, you may want to begin regular checkups beginning at age 40 as you may be at higher risk.

• Eat a diet high in fiber, soy protein, fruits, and vegetables
• Obesity may increase your risk of cancer
• Exercise regularly
• Don’t smoke
• Limit alcohol and caffeine
• Drink lots of water

Diagnosis

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE PROSTATE CANCER?

Prostate cancer may be discovered during a checkup with a DRE (digital rectal exam) and/or PSA (prostate specific antigen).

DRE: The doctor probes the rectal area with a gloved, lubricated finger, feeling for bumps or hard areas on the prostate that could be an indicator of potential cancer.

PSA: A blood test searching for prostate cancer in men with or without symptoms.

If your PSA or DRE test is abnormal, your healthcare provider may do more testing using one of the following methods:

• Biopsy: Taking a number of small pieces of prostate tissue following local anesthesia and examining them under a microscope.
• Urinalysis: Often used to rule out BPH or prostatitis.
• Imaging: Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce an image of the prostate. MRI and CT scans use computers to produce images. Also, bone scanning can look for prostate cancer that might have spread to the skeletal system.
• Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). A test using sound wave echoes to create an image of the prostate gland to visually inspect for abnormal conditions.
• Lymph node biopsy: Examination of small samples from the lymph nodes can determine whether the prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body

New tests are being developed, so when consulting with your healthcare provider ask if other tests are available.

It’s important that you speak to your healthcare provider to learn more about screening for prostate cancer to help you decide if it is right for you.

Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider

You should become proactive with your healthcare to get the best treatment available. Ask your healthcare provider these questions:

• What type of prostate cancer do I have?
• Will I feel pain if I have it?
• Am I more likely to get prostate cancer than anyone else?
• Do you think I should have screening? If so, what are the available tests?
• What are the pros and cons of the PSA blood test?
• What is my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level? What does this mean?
• What is the cancer’s clinical stage and grade (Gleason score)? What does this mean?
• What are the chances that the cancer has spread to other parts of my body?
• What treatment options do you recommend and why? What are the benefits and side effects of each?
• Is watchful waiting (active surveillance) an option for me? Why or why not?
• What would we do if the treatment doesn’t work or if the cancer come back?

Treatments

Your healthcare provider decides the best treatment for your case, and may choose one or a combination of the following options:

• Active surveillance – delaying treatment until test results show that your prostate cancer is growing or changing
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Vaccine treatment
• Cryosurgery (cryotherapy)

Ask your healthcare provider which treatment is best for you depending on:

• Your age at diagnosis
• How severe your cancer is
• Whether or not you have other health conditions
• Whether or not you and your healthcare provider feel it’s necessary to treat the cancer
• The likelihood that each type of treatment will cure your cancer (or provide some other measure of benefit)
• The possible side effects from each treatment

Second Opinion:

If you feel uncertain as to what your treatment options are, you may wish to seek a second opinion from another healthcare provider. You can talk to several different healthcare providers, such as urologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologist, about treatment options, side effects, and possible results.

TREATMENT AFFECT ON SEXUAL HEALTH

Prostate cancer is not a cause of Erectile Dysfunction. However, treatments for the disease can cause ED.

Surgery. Some operations cause more sex problems than others.  Men who had strong erections before cancer surgery are more likely to maintain them than men who had problems with erections prior to surgery. Surgery can cause loss of blood flow in some arteries, potentially restricting blood flow to the penis.

Radiation.  Radiation treatments to the lower abdomen can cause problems with erections because of the attack to the vessels that carry blood to the penis. As the treated area heals, scar tissue can form inside causing a difficulty with blood flow. Radiation may also harm the nerves that control erection, and some men may produce less testosterone after radiation treatment. However,  testosterone levels usually go back up within 6 months after radiation. Male hormones may cause prostate cancer cells to grow faster.

Chemotherapy. Most men getting chemo can still have normal erections. However, it is normal for erections and desire often drop right after getting chemo but return shortly thereafter. In some cases, testosterone treatment may be prescribed to regain normal desire and erections.

Hormone Treatment. Treatment for metastasized prostate cancer may include adjusting hormone balance. Hormone treatment starves the cancer cells of testosterone slowing cancer’s growth. Blocking testosterone can be done by:

• Using drugs to keep the man from making testosterone
• Using drugs that block the body from using testosterone
• Removing the testicles (called orchiectomy)

Men with nerve damage from prostate cancer treatment might not respond as well to these drugs as those with Erectile Dysfunction from other physical causes. But some research suggests that men who use one of these drugs fairly often, starting within 6 months of prostate surgery, might have better erections over time (as long as there is no nerve damage).

Information for women for dealing with the sensitive issues related to sexual health can be found here.

Resources

For more information on Prostate Cancer visit:

Prostate Cancer Roundtable
Facts About Prostate Cancer
Facts About Prostate Cancer – Advanced: Diagnosis, Stages and Treatment

Support Groups:

US Too International
National Cancer Institute
Prostate Cancer, including information on clinical trials

About

RISK FACTORS

• Age: Higher risk as men age. On average, males are diagnosed with breast cancer at 68 years.
• Family History: 1 out 5 men who have been diagnosed has a family history (including a mother or sister with breast cancer.
• Prior radiation exposure: men who have had their chest area treated with radiation for a lymphoma or other conditions are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
• Regular use of estrogen-related drugs: transgender/ transsexual individuals that take high doses of estrogen may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Some men with prostate cancer may also be a higher risk if treated with hormone therapy that involved estrogen related drugs.
• Men with a mutation (defect) in the BRCA2 gene have an increased risk of breast cancer, with a lifetime risk of about 6 in 100.
• Liver disease: Men with a severe liver disease such as cirrhosis are at an increased risk for breast cancer.

While it is less common than other male cancers, breast cancer has a higher death rate. It can claim the lives of over 20% of those diagnosed. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the more likely it is that treatments will be effective – no matter what gender you are.

FYI

A WOMAN’S ROLE

1. Remind
Remind the men in your lives to perform self-breast exams, just as you do.

2. Recognize
Men often confuse symptoms with a sports or work injury. Because they are less likely to recognize or report warning signs, they are often diagnosed after the disease has spread.

3. Reinforce
Men with symptoms may not go to the health care provider because they believe a “real man” wouldn’t get breast cancer. That attitude can be prevented with a healthy support system. Reinforce the importance of checking out anything unusual with a health care provider as soon as possible.

Lack of awareness about male breast cancer can be fatal – men with breast cancer often mistake visible lumps for other problems or ignore them until it is too late. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the more likely it is that treatments will be effective – no matter what gender you are. Early detection is key.

Symptoms

Schedule a medical appointment if you notice any of these symptoms:

• A lump or thickening (often painless) in the breast that can be felt
• Skin dimpling or puckering
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Clear or bloody discharge from the nipple

Prevention

You may be able to decrease your risk of breast cancer by:

• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Staying physically active
• Practicing self-examination

Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider

It’s important that you become proactive in your health care for you to get the best treatment. Here are some questions you can ask your health care provider about male breast cancer.

• What type of breast cancer do I have?
• What is the stage of my cancer?
• What are my treatment options? What treatment do you recommend? Why?
• What are the possible side effects of this treatment?
• How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?
• Are there any clinical trials that I could participate in?
• Who can help me understand what aspects of my care is covered by my insurance and where I can get financial help.
• After treatment, what are the chances that the cancer will come back?

Treatments

Treatment usually includes a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy.

Visit the American Cancer Society for more detailed information about male breast cancer treatment options.

Resources

Find Out More about Male Breast Cancer at the following websites and resources:

Male Breast Cancer Coalition
Male Breast Cancer Resource Center
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
Breast Cancer.Org
Breast Cancer: It Can Happen to Men, Too!

About

About 60% of colon cancer deaths can be prevented through early screening and removal of polyps (abnormal growths). If cancer does develop, it’s highly curable when caught in the early stages.

Colorectal cancer diagnosis and death rates are 30% to 40% higher in men than women, according to the American Cancer Society.

African American men are 25% more likely that White men to be diagnosed and 50% more likely to die from the disease.

FYI

• More than 90% of diagnoses and deaths occur in men over 50.
• Colorectal cancer diagnosis and death rates are 30% to 40% higher in men than women, according to the American Cancer Society.
• More than 90% of people whose colorectal cancer is caught early are alive five years after their diagnosis.

Symptoms

In its early stages, colorectal cancer often has no symptoms. But if you experience any of the following, you may wish to consult your medical provider – especially if you have any of the previously mentioned risk factors. These symptoms may not mean you have cancer, but talking to you healthcare provider and getting tested is the only way to know for sure.

• Blood in your stool (feces) or stools that are more narrow than usual
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Unexplained constipation and/or diarrhea
• Feeling that you aren’t able to fully empty your bowels
• Unusual nausea, vomiting, gas, cramps, or other stomach issues
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained loss of appetite

Prevention

Risk factors for colorectal cancer include the following:

• Age. More than 90% of diagnoses and deaths occur in men over 50.
• Sex. Colorectal cancer diagnosis and death rates are 30% to 40% higher in men than women, according to the American Cancer Society.
• Race. African American men are 25% more likely that White men to be diagnosed and 50% more likely to die from the disease.
• Family History. Men with a sibling, parent, or child who has or had colorectal cancer are more likely to develop the disease than those with no family history.
• Diet. A diet high in fat and calories, low in fiber, and including a lot of processes and/ or red meat may increase your risk.
• Weight. Being obese or extremely overweight may increase your risk.
• Lifestyle. Smoking cigarettes, having more than two drinks per day, and not exercising regularly increases your risk of developing and dying from colorectal cancer.
• A personal history of IBD (inflammatory bowel disease).

Diagnosis

Because symptoms are rare, early screening is essential to preventing this deadly disease. Your healthcare provider will most likely recommend that you start getting screened at age 50. However, if you’re in a high-risk group, you may need to start at age 40 or younger. The most common screenings include:

• Stool. A high-sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT) detects tiny amounts of blood in the stool, which may indicate that cancer is present. Do this test once every one or two years, or as recommended by your provider.

• Sigmoidoscopy. A healthcare provider uses a thin, flexible tube that has a video camera on one end to examine the rectum and part of the colon. Suspicious growths can be removed and sent to a lab for analysis. Depending on the results, you may need to have other tests. You should have this test every five years, or more often if recommended by your healthcare provider.

• Colonoscopy. A healthcare provider uses a long tube to examine the whole colon, looking for polyps that can be removed. This test is typically recommended every 10 years for low-risk patients.

There are also several less-common screening tests. Your healthcare provider will tell you which ones are most appropriate for you.

Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider

It is important to discuss your symptoms, screenings, treatment options, side effects, and long-term prognosis with your medical provider. You may also want to ask your provider about clinical trials, which are studies where researchers test new drugs and other treatments on volunteer patients. Learn more at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Treatments

If you’re diagnosed with colorectal cancer, you, your healthcare provider, other medical specialists, and your family should work together to decide on the treatment plan that’s best for you. Depending on the severity of the cancer, your options will most likely include one or more of the following:

• Surgery. Removal of the cancer by cutting it out.
• Chemotherapy. Drugs to kill cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy. Powerful, highly focused rays (typically x-rays) to kill cancer cells.
• Targeted therapies. Drugs that target specific gene proteins to destroy a tumor by cutting off its blood supply. Targeted therapies are usually used when the cancer has reached an advanced stage and has spread to other parts of the body This type of targeting minimizes damage to healthy cells surrounding the tumor.

Resources

MEN’S HEALTH ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER
www.MensHealthResourceCenter.com

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
www.cdc.gov
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
www.cancer.gov/types

CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES
www.cms.hhs.gov

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
www.cancer.org

MEN’S HEALTH LIBRARY
www.MensHealthLibrary.com