Irish Cancer Society Encourages Men to Spot Cancer Early for Men’s Health Week 2015
To mark Men’s Health Week 2015 the Irish Cancer Society is encouraging men to be aware of the early warning signs of cancer and to take action if they notice any. Each year 10,000 men are diagnosed with invasive cancer in Ireland. The earlier it is diagnosed the better the chance of it being treated successfully. By knowing what is normal for your body and getting anything out of the ordinary checked by your doctor, a cancer can be diagnosed, or ruled out, at a very early stage. For example, if you are diagnosed with bowel cancer at stage one you have a 95 percent five year survival rate however if you are diagnosed at stage four this is reduced to 10 percent. Kevin O’Hagan, Cancer Prevention Manager at the Irish Cancer Society said “It's important to be aware of what is going on in your body and what is normal for you. Then you can spot any changes that could be a sign of cancer and take action. Sometimes people put off seeing their doctor because they’re worried about what the doctor might find or they are afraid of wasting the doctor’s time. Chances are it won’t be cancer, but if it is, the sooner it is detected, the more treatment options are available and the better your chance of survival. “There are more than 200 different types of cancer, each with different symptoms. Many of the possible symptoms of cancer can also be caused by other, much less serious, things. It is so important to know what’s normal for you and see your doctor about any unexplained, persistent or unusual changes.” Advances in the way cancer is diagnosed and treated have led to real improvements in survival over the years. The survival rates for men in Ireland have increased from 40% in 1994-1999 to 59% in 2008-20111. Survival rates for the cancers that only affect men have increased in that time as follows:
- Prostate: 66% - 92%
- Testicular: 90% - 97%
Mr O’Hagan continued, “We want to see survival rates increase even further in the coming years as we move towards a future without cancer. The message for older and younger men alike; get informed about risk factors of cancer, and what you can do to protect your health. Know your body; look out for any unusual changes and take action. Talk to your doctor or contact the Cancer Nurseline on Freefone 1800 200 700 and speak in confidence to a specialist cancer nurse. It could save your life.”
10 Early Warning Signs that you cannot ignore
- New lumps or growths on your skin
- A sore or bruise that does not heal
- A mole that changes in shape, size or colour or bleeds in unusual circumstances
- An ongoing cough or hoarseness that last longer than three weeks
- Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
- A change in bowel or bladder habits for no good reason
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
- Blood anywhere it normally should not be – in urine, bowel motions, or from spitting
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