When to See Your Doctor About Cancer (as a Man)
Knowing when to see your doctor about cancer can be a guessing game because there are shared symptoms. And men are less likely to do so. But you should reconsider in some cases.
You Can’t Stop Coughing
There are times of the year when you might have a cough that won’t go away. Some of these are having a cold or the flu in the spring or winter. But mesothelioma symptoms could be a sign of lung cancer caused by asbestos. Men aren’t the only ones who do this, of course. But lung cancer is becoming more and more common. Between 2020 and 2021, there were more than 25,000 new cases of lung cancer in men in the UK alone. And the data show this is increasing.
A Change in Bathroom Habits
What happens when you go to the bathroom can depend a lot on what you eat. But there are also signs of colorectal cancer that are linked to each other. Colon cancer, by another name, affects both men and women. But survival rates are very different depending on the situation. Some of the most common signs to look out for are sudden changes in the way you use the bathroom, like bleeding from your rectum or bloody stools, and sudden weight loss.
See Your Doctor About Cancer if There’s a Testis Lump
More than 10,000 men in the US get testicular cancer every year, regardless of your health. The chance of getting better from testicular cancer is good, though. But this only works if you catch it early. Testis cancer is easy to spot, unlike some other types of cancer, where the symptoms take a long time to show. A mass of tissue on your testicle is a clear sign. You can check yourself every morning in the shower to find out. A lump can be very small or as big as a pea.
You Have No Energy
There are many things that could be making you feel tired. They are sometimes physical and sometimes mental. For example, you could be stressed out and overworked, which is common for men. Or there might not be enough of a certain vitamin. But a sudden drop in energy, like not being able to play with your kids, could be a sign of leukemia, colon cancer, or stomach cancer. So, just to be safe, schedule an appointment with your doctor if the issue is ongoing.
A Lump on Your Breast
You might be surprised to learn that only women can get breast cancer. Even though it happens less often, men can also get breast cancer. At the moment, about 1% of breast cancer cases in the United States are found in men. Some of the first signs of male breast cancer are a small lump, your nipples turning in, and tender redness around your breast skin. Strangely, only about 95% of men with breast cancer will make it through, compared to 99% of women.
Summary
You can save your own life if you decide to see your doctor about cancer based on specific symptoms. These include a testis lump, you can’t stop coughing, and a lump on your breast.