15 Cancer Symptoms Men Ignore

Men, heed these possible clues and find cancer early, when it's more treatable. By Kathleen Doheny, WebMD Feature, Reviewed by aura !. Martin, MD
Experts say that men could benefit greatly by being alert to certain cancer symptoms that require a trip to the doctors office sooner rather than later. But when it comes to scheduling doctor visits, men are notorious foot-draggers. Leonard Lichtenfeld, !, is deputy chief medical officer for the national office of the "merican #ancer $ociety. "ccording to Lichtenfeld, men often need to be pushed by women to get screened for cancer. %hats unfortunate. &outine preventive care can find cancer and other diseases in their early stages. 'hen cancer is found early, there are more options for treatment. %hat means there are also better chances for a cure. $ome cancer symptoms in men are specific. %hey involve certain body parts and may point directly to the possibility of cancer. (ther symptoms are vague. )or instance, pain that affects many body parts could have many explanations. *t may or may not be a sign of cancer. But you can+t rule cancer out without seeing a doctor.

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Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 1# $reast Mass

*f youre li,e most men, youve probably never considered the possibility of having breast cancer. "lthough its not common, it is possible. -"ny new mass in the breast area of a man needs to be chec,ed out by a physician,- Lichtenfeld says. *n addition, the "merican #ancer $ociety identifies several other worrisome signs involving the breast that men as well as women should ta,e note of. %hey include.

$,in dimpling or puc,ering /ipple retraction &edness or scaling of the nipple or breast s,in /ipple discharge

'hen you consult your physician about any of these signs, expect him to ta,e a careful history and do a physical exam. %hen, depending on the findings, the doctor may order a mammogram, a biopsy, or other tests.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" %# &ain

"s they age, people often complain of increasing aches and pains. But pain, as vague as it may be, can be an early symptom of some cancers. ost pain complaints, though, are not from cancer. "ny pain that persists, according to the "merican #ancer $ociety, should be chec,ed out by your physician. %he doctor should ta,e a careful history, get more details, and then decide whether further testing is necessary. *f it+s not cancer, you will still benefit from the visit to the office. %hats because the doctor can wor, with you to find out what+s causing the pain and determine the proper treatment.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" '# Changes in the Testic es

%esticular cancer occurs most often in men aged 01 to 23. %he "merican #ancer $ociety recommends that men get a testicular exam by a doctor as part of a routine cancer-related chec,up. $ome doctors also suggest a monthly self-exam.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" '# Changes in the Testic es continue("""

Evan 4. 4u , !, is assistant professor of medicine at the 5niversity of 'ashington and assistant member of the )red 6utchinson #ancer &esearch #enter in $eattle. 4u tells 'eb ! that being aware of troublesome testicular symptoms between examinations is wise. -"ny change in the si7e of the testicles, such as growth or shrin,age,- 4u says, 8should be a concern.9 *n addition, any swelling, lump, or feeling of heaviness in the scrotum should not be ignored. $ome testicular cancers occur very quic,ly. $o early detection is especially crucial. -*f you feel a hard lump of coal :in your testicle;, get it chec,ed right away,4u says. 4our doctor should do a testicular exam and an overall assessment of your health. *f cancer is suspected, blood tests may be ordered. 4ou may also undergo an ultrasound examination of your scrotum, and your doctor may decide to do a biopsy. " biopsy may require the removal of the entire testicle.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" )# Changes in the *ymph !o(es

*f you notice a lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your armpit or in your nec, -- or anywhere else -- it could be a reason for concern, says 6annah Linden, !. Linden is a medical oncologist and an associate professor of medicine at the 5niversity of 'ashington $chool of edicine. $he is also a <oint associate member of the )red 6utchinson #ancer &esearch #enter in $eattle. -*f you have a lymph node that gets progressively larger, and it+s been longer than a month, see a doctor,- she says. 4our doctor should examine you and determine any associated issues that could explain the lymph node enlargement, such as infection. *f there is no infection, a doctor will typically order a biopsy.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 5# +e,er

*f you+ve got an unexplained fever, it may indicate cancer. )ever, though, might also be a sign of pneumonia or some other illness or infection that needs treatment. ost cancers will cause fever at some point. (ften, fever occurs after the cancer has spread from its original site and invaded another part of the body. )ever can also be caused by blood cancers such as lymphoma or leu,emia, according to the "merican #ancer $ociety. *ts best not to ignore a fever that cant be explained. #hec, with your doctor to find out what might be causing the fever and to determine its proper treatment.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" -# Weight *oss Without Trying

5nexpected weight loss is a concern, Lichtenfeld says. - ost of us don+t lose weight easily.- 6e+s tal,ing about more than simply a few pounds from a stepped up exercise program or to eating less because of a busy schedule. *f a man loses more than =1> of his body weight in a time period of 2 to ? months, its time to see the doctor, he says. 4our doctor should do a general physical exam, as, you questions about your diet and exercise, and as, about other symptoms. Based on that information, the doctor will decide what other tests are needed.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" .# /na0ing 1b(omina &ain an( Depression

8"ny man @or womanA who+s got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needs a chec,up,9 says Lichtenfeld. Experts have found a lin, between depression and pancreatic cancer. (ther symptoms of pancreas cancer may include <aundice, a change in stool color -- often gray -- a dar,ening of the urine. *tching over the whole body may also occur. Expect your doctor to do a careful physical exam and ta,e a history. %he doctor should order tests such as an ultrasound, a #% scan or both, as well as other laboratory tests.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 2# +atigue

)atigue is another vague symptom that could point to cancer in men. But many other problems could cause fatigue as well. Li,e fever, fatigue can set in after the cancer has grown. But according to the "merican #ancer $ociety, it may also happen early in cancers such as leu,emia, colon cancer, or stomach cancer. *f you often feel extremely tired and you dont get better with rest, chec, with your doctor. %he doctor should evaluate the fatigue along with any other symptoms in order to determine its cause and the proper treatment.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 3# &ersistent Cough

#oughs are expected, of course, with colds, the flu, and allergies. %hey are also sometimes a side effect of a medication. But a very prolonged cough -- defined as lasting more than three or four wee,s -- or a change in a cough should not be ignored, says &anit ishori, !, assistant professor and director of the family medicine cler,ship at Beorgetown 5niversity $chool of edicine in 'ashington, !.#. %hose cough patterns warrant a visit to the doctor. %hey could be a symptom of cancer, or they could indicate some other problem such as chronic bronchitis or acid reflux. 4our doctor should ta,e a careful history, examine your throat, listen to your lungs, determine their function with a spirometry test, and, if you are a smo,er, order C-rays. (nce the reason for the coughing is identified, the doctor will wor, with you to determine a treatment plan.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 14# Di55icu ty S0a o0ing

$ome men may report trouble swallowing but then ignore it, Lichtenfeld says. -(ver time, they change their diet to a more liquid diet. %hey start to drin, more soup.- But swallowing difficulties, he says, may be a sign of a B* cancer, such as cancer of the esophagus. Let your doctor ,now if you are having trouble swallowing. 4our doctor should ta,e a careful history and possibly order a chest C-ray and a barium swallow. %he doctor may also send you to a specialist for an upper B* endoscopy to examine your esophagus and upper B* tract.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 11# Changes in the Skin

4ou should be alert to not only changes in moles -- a well-,nown sign of potential s,in cancer -- but also changes in s,in pigmentation, says ary !aly, !. !aly is an oncologist and head of the department of clinical genetics at the )ox #hase #ancer #enter in Dhiladelphia. !aly also says that suddenly developing bleeding on your s,in or excessive scaling are reasons to chec, with your doctor. *t+s difficult to say how long is too long to observe s,in changes, but most experts say not to wait longer than several wee,s. %o find out whats causing the s,in changes, your doctor should ta,e a careful history and perform a careful physical exam. %he doctor may also order a biopsy to rule out cancer.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 1%# $ oo( Where It Shou (n6t $e

8"nytime you see blood coming from a body part where you+ve never seen it before, see a doctor,9 Lichtenfeld says. -*f you start coughing up blood, spitting up blood, have blood in the bowel or in the urine, its time for a doctor visit.9 ishori says its a mista,e to assume blood in the stool is simply from a hemorrhoid. -*t could be colon cancer,- he says. 4our doctor should as, you questions about your symptoms. %he doctor may also order tests such as a colonoscopy. %his is an examination of the colon using a long flexible tube with a camera on one end. %he purpose of a colonoscopy is to identify any signs of cancer or precancer or identify any other causes of the bleeding.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 1'# Mouth Changes

*f you smo,e or chew tobacco, you need to be especially alert for any white patches inside your mouth or white spots on your tongue. %hose changes may indicate leu,opla,ia, a pre-cancerous area that can occur with ongoing irritation. %his condition can progress to oral cancer. 4ou should report the changes to your doctor or dentist. %he dentist or doctor should ta,e a careful history, examine the changes, and then decide what other tests might be needed.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 1)# 7rinary &rob ems

"s men age, urinary problems become more frequent, says 4u. %hose problems include the following.

%he urge to urinate more often,especially at night " sense of urgency " feeling of not completely emptying the bladder "n inability to start the urine stream 5rine lea,ing when laughing or coughing " wea,ening of the urine stream

-Every man will develop these problems as he gets older,- 4u says. -But once you notice these symptoms, you should see, medical attention.- %hat+s especially true if the symptoms get worse. 4our doctor should do a digital rectal exam, which will tell him whether the prostate gland is enlarged or has nodules on it. %he prostate gland often enlarges as a man ages. *ts most often caused by a noncancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BD6. 4our doctor may discuss doing a blood test to chec, the level of prostate-specific antigen or D$". D$" is a protein produced by the prostate gland, and the test is used to help determine the possibility of prostate cancer. *f the doctor notices abnormalities in the prostate or if the D$" is higher than it should be, your doctor may refer you to a urologist and perhaps order a biopsy. Drostate cancer may be present even with a normal D$" level.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 15# In(igestion

any men, especially as they get older, thin, -heart attac,- when they get bad indigestion. But persistent indigestion may point to cancer of the esophagus, throat, or stomach. Dersistent or worsening indigestion should be reported to your doctor. 4our doctor should ta,e a careful history and as, questions about the indigestion episodes. Based on the history and your answers to the questions, the doctor will decide what tests are needed.