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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 symptomsthat 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 bywomen 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, thereare 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 maypoint 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.

What Is Your Cancer Risk? Take the WebMD Cancer Heath Check

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

*f youre lie most men, youve probably never considered the possibility of havingbreast cancer. "lthough its not common, it is possible. "ny new mass in the breastarea of a man needs to be checed 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 tae note of. %hey include

$in dimpling or pucering

/ipple retraction

&edness or scaling of the nipple or breast sin

/ipple discharge

'hen you consult your physician about any of these signs, expect him to tae a carefulhistory 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 vagueas 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 checed

out by your physician. %he doctor should tae a careful history, get more details, andthen 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 outwhat+s causing the pain and determine the proper treatment.

http://www.webmd.com/kathleen-dohenyhttp://www.webmd.com/kathleen-dohenyhttp://www.webmd.com/martin-laura-jhttp://www.webmd.com/cancer/health-check-cancer-risk/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/kathleen-dohenyhttp://www.webmd.com/martin-laura-jhttp://www.webmd.com/cancer/health-check-cancer-risk/default.htm

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Cancer Symptom in Men !o" '# Changes in the Testices

%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 routinecancer-related checup. $ome doctors also suggest a monthly self-exam.

Cancer Symptom in Men !o" '# Changes in the Testices 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 shrinage, 4u says,8should be a concern.9

*n addition, any swelling, lump, or feeling of heaviness in the scrotum should not beignored. $ome testicular cancers occur very quicly. $o early detection is especially

crucial. *f you feel a hard lump of coal :in your testicle;, get it checed right away,4u says.

4our doctor should do a testicular exam and an overall assessment of your health. *fcancer is suspected, blood tests may be ordered. 4ou may also undergo an ultrasoundexamination of your scrotum, and your doctor may decide to do a biopsy. " biopsymay 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

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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 taling about more than simply a few pounds from a stepped up exerciseprogram 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, hesays.

4our doctor should do a general physical exam, as you questions about your diet andexercise, and as about other symptoms. Based on that information, the doctor will

decide what other tests are needed.

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

8"ny man @or womanA who+s got a pain in the abdomen and is feeling depressed needsa checup,9 says Lichtenfeld. Experts have found a lin between depression and

pancreatic cancer. (ther symptoms of pancreas cancer may include

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Cancer Symptom in Men !o" 14# Diicuty S0ao0ing

$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. Butswallowing difficulties, he says, may be a sign of a * cancer, such as cancer of the

esophagus.

Let your doctor now if you are having trouble swallowing. 4our doctor should tae acareful history and possibly order a chest C-ray and a barium swallow. %he doctor mayalso send you to a specialist for an upper * endoscopy to examine your esophagus

and upper * 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 sincancer -- but also changes in sin 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 sin or excessive scaling arereasons to chec with your doctor. *t+s difficult to say how long is too long to observesin changes, but most experts say not to wait longer than several wees.

%o find out whats causing the sin changes, your doctor should tae a careful history

and perform a careful physical exam. %he doctor may also order a biopsy to rule outcancer.

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, haveblood in the bowel or in the urine, its time for a doctor visit.9

ishori says its a mistae 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 alsoorder 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 anysigns of cancer or precancer or identify any other causes of the bleeding.

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

*f you smoe 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 indicateleuoplaia, 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

tae a careful history, examine the changes, and then decide what other tests mightbe needed.

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

"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 leaing when laughing or coughing

" weaening 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 ifthe symptoms get worse.

4our doctor should do a digital rectal exam, which will tell him whether the prostategland 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 prostatichyperplasia or BD6.

4our doctor may discuss doing a blood test to chec the level of prostate-specificantigen 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. Drostatecancer 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, orstomach. Dersistent or worsening indigestion should be reported to your doctor.

4our doctor should tae a careful history and as questions about the indigestionepisodes. Based on the history and your answers to the questions, the doctor willdecide what tests are needed.