#CANSAscreening    #MensHealth

What do men want when it comes to their health?

CANSA needs your help to figure this out! So we'd like to ask you to complete this super quick survey, as we want to spread the word about men’s cancer warning signs and empower men to lower their cancer risk and detect cancer earlier. We need South African men to know that they do not have to go through cancer alone. CANSA can help. Your feedback will help us streamline and tailor make our offerings to suit the needs of men.

Top Cancers Affecting SA Men

The five leading cancers affecting men (excluding melanoma) according to the 2016 National Cancer Registry (NCR) are prostate, colorectal, lung, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and bladder cancer.

While it isn’t possible to screen for all of these cancers, men can take advantage of screening that is available.

The lifetime risk for prostate cancer for men in SA is 1 in 17 (NCR 2016). Men need not be fearful of invasive screening when a simple Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test can determine prostate specific antigen levels and if they are at risk of prostate cancer. Early detection improves treatment outcomes, so we urge men, over 40 years not to delay and to take advantage of our reduced screening fee for PSA testing at local CANSA Care Centres this November.

Did You Know?

• Men aged 40 with a history of prostate cancer on either the mother or father’s side, or with a first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than 65 years), should go for screening, and from the age of 45, all other men should too.
• Another risk factor to be aware of, is the potential increased risk for prostate cancer developing when there a family history of first-degree female relatives diagnosed with breast cancer linked to BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation (first degree relatives include a mother, grandmother, sisters and aunts).

Watch our award winning (Gold Loerie) video below:

How to do a Testicular Self-Examination

While testicular cancer affects fewer men, it has a higher incidence in younger men with the lifetime risk being 1 in 1 436 according to the 2016 NCR. Regular monthly self-examinations can help detect this cancer early. Men from the ages of 15 to 49 need to examine their testicles, preferably after a bath or shower, to feel for any pea-sized lumps that could indicate testicular cancer. Find instructions on doing a self-examination on the CANSA website.

Source self-exam graphic

Lower Your Cancer Risk

• Men can lower their risk of prostate and colorectal cancer by eating a balanced diet (including lots of fruit and vegetables), maintaining a healthy weight and limiting red meat and high fat dairy products.
• One of the biggest risk factors for lung and bladder cancer is smoking. Men can lower their risk for these cancers by avoiding tobacco and related products.

Support Available

It’s important that men diagnosed with cancer realise they need not face it alone. CANSA provides a counselling service dedicated to providing advice to cancer survivors and patients. Speak to a counsellor at your local CANSA Care Centre or call our Help Desk on 0800 22 66 22 to make an appointment for Tele Counselling (the service is free and offered in 7 languages), or email us at counselling@cansa.org.za. You can also join our Champions of Hope Facebook Group for cancer Survivors and chat to peers who are facing similar challenges.