Testicular cancer – key health facts

How common is testicular cancer?

Testicular cancer is rare but is a cancer that occurs most in younger men 18-39 years.

What is testicular cancer?

The testicles (two small egg shaped glands in the scrotum) make and store sperm and produce male hormone. There are two types of testicular cancer, seminoma and non-seminoma affecting different cell types.

Symptoms of testicular cancer

• Swelling or lump in the testicle, usually painless
• Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• Change in the size or shape of the testicle
• Feeling of unevenness
• Pain or ache in the lower abdomen, the testicle or scrotum
• Enlargement or tenderness of the breast tissue.

How is testicular cancer diagnosed?

• Physical examination
• Ultrasound – to get a picture
• Blood test – for tumour markers (chemicals that some cancers release into the blood).

Treatments

Treatment for testicular cancer is usually very successful and most men can now be cured even if the cancer has spread. Most men have surgery to remove the testicle. Some men will be offered a combination of two or more treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The treatment depends on the type of testicular cancer and whether or not it has spread. Some men may be closely observed after surgery and only require chemotherapy if spreading is found later.

Reducing your risk of testicular cancer

Causes of testicular cancer are unknown. Undescended testicles, even if surgically repaired, or a family history of testicular cancer, slightly increase the risk.

For more detailed information please contact 0800 CANCER (226 237) or visit the Cancer Society's website www.cancernz.org.nz.

This Key Fact Sheet was written in July 2008 by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Key Fact Sheets are reviewed every two years with the help of cancer experts and the public.

Click here to download a testicular cancer fact sheet

Prostate cancer – key health facts

How common is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer occurs mainly in men over 60, and is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand men, aged 45 and over. Around 2500 men are diagnosed annually.

The prostate

The prostate is a small gland about 4 cm across, that sits below the bladder and surrounds the top part of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder, and semen from the sex glands to the outside of the body via the penis).

Symptoms of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer that hasn’t spread to other parts of the body usually causes no symptoms. Many men over 50 have urinary symptoms, such as

• Passing urine more frequently
• Difficulty urinating – starting or stopping
• Poor flow of urine, and
• Getting up at night more frequently to urinate.

These symptoms are usually due to pressure on the urethra from an enlarged prostate (benign – not cancerous). It is important to have all symptoms checked by a doctor to exclude a cancer.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

• PSA (prostate-specific antigen blood test).
• Digital rectal examination (DRE) The doctor puts a gloved finger into your rectum and feels the prostate through the rectal wall.
  
• Ultrasound examination and biopsy: a small needle is directed into the prostate guided by an ultrasound probe in the rectum (This is called transrectal ultrasound or TRUS).

Treatments for prostate cancer

Treatments may include surgery, radiation treatment, hormone therapy, or a combination of these. For some older men, a programme of active surveillance may be recommended.

Reducing your risk of prostate cancer

The causes of prostate cancer are not fully understood. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and eating less red meat may lower your risk of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is more common if there is a family history.

Prostate screening

Many men ask if they should be routinely tested (screened) for prostate cancer if they don’t have any symptoms. Screening tests for prostate cancer include blood (PSA) tests and rectal examinations.

The Cancer Society recommends that men who are thinking about being tested should have information about the possible benefits and risks to enable them to make up their minds. Discuss this with your doctor.

For more detailed information please contact 0800 CANCER (226 237) or visit the Cancer Society's website www.cancernz.org.nz.

This Key Fact Sheet was written in July 2008 by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Key Fact Sheets are reviewed every two years with the help of cancer experts and the public.

Click here to download a prostate cancer fact sheet

Skin cancer – key health facts

How common is skin cancer?

Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common cancers in New Zealand. The most serious skin cancer is melanoma with over 900 men diagnosed each year.

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancers are named after the type of cell they start from. The three main types of skin cancer are basal cell cancer (most common and least serious), squamous cell cancer (less common than basal cell cancer but potentially more serious) and melanoma.

Signs of skin cancer

Some examples of skin changes are: a spot or sore that does not heal, an itchy bleeding or ulcerating spot or changes in a mole or freckle, e.g. in colour, size or shape. Check your skin regularly and if you notice anything unusual that does not go away within one month show it to your doctor.

How is skin cancer diagnosed?

• Physical examination by your family doctor
• Removal or biopsy of the area that has changed.

Treatment

There are several ways of treating skin cancer including surgery, cryotherapy (freezing), chemotherapy or *immunotherapy creams and radiation treatment.

The people most at risk of skin cancer are those with:

• a personal and/or family history of skin cancer
• a history of sunburn
• fair skin and/or having freckles or many moles

Others at risk include people who work or spend long periods of time outdoors, work indoors but get a lot of sun exposure in their leisure time or use sunbeds, sunlamps or solariums. There is a greatly increased risk of skin cancer if your immune system is lowered by drugs such as those taken after an organ transplant

Reducing your risk of skin cancer

• Protect your skin from UV radiation between 11am and 4pm in the daylight saving months
• Seek shade
• Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible, hats that protect the face, ears and neck and wrap around sunglasses
• Use SPF 30+ water resistant sunscreen, and reapply every two hours
• Cover up in winter at high altitudes or near snow or water.

*Treatment using substances that occur naturally in the body to destroy cancer cells.

For more detailed information please contact 0800 CANCER (226 237) or visit the Cancer Society's website www.cancernz.org.nz.

This Key Fact Sheet was written in July 2008 by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Key Fact Sheets are reviewed every two years with the help of cancer experts and the public.

Click here to download a skin cancer fact sheet

Lung cancer – key health facts

How common is lung cancer?

Approximately 1000 men are diagnosed with lung cancer in New Zealand each year. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in New Zealand men, with around 900 men dying each year.

What is lung cancer?

Lung cancer usually starts in the lining of the bronchus or bronchioles (tubes that carry air into the lungs). There are two main types: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Symptoms of lung cancer

• A persistent cough or change in a chronic cough
• Repeated chest infections
• Shortness of breath
• Noisy breathing
• Pain in the chest area
• Blood-stained sputum

These symptoms may be caused by other conditions but should be checked by a doctor.

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

• Chest x-ray
• Sputum (what you cough up) test
• Bronchoscopy – a flexible tube (scope) that lets the doctor see into your lung and take a biopsy
• CT scan.

Treatments

The treatments for lung cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy and may involve one of these or a combination. Treatment depends on the size, type and where the cancer is in the lung and if it has spread.

Reducing your risk of lung cancer

The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke. If you are a smoker stopping now will lower your risk.

For more detailed information please contact 0800 CANCER (226 237) or visit the Cancer Society's website www.cancernz.org.nz.

This Key Fact Sheet was written in July 2008 by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Key Fact Sheets are reviewed every two years with the help of cancer experts and the public.

Click here to download a lung cancer fact sheet

Bowel cancer – key health facts

How common is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers among New Zealand men. Around 1300 men are diagnosed each year. Most bowel cancer occurs in people over 50.

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer (colon, rectum, or colorectal cancer) usually begins as a benign (not cancerous) polyp – a mushroom-like growth which occurs inside the bowel.

Symptoms of bowel cancer

• a change in bowel habits
• diarrhoea
• constipation or feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
• blood in your bowel motion
• bowel motions that are narrower than usual
• general abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating or cramps)
• unexplained weight loss
• tiredness.

These symptoms are often caused by other conditions but they need to be checked by your doctor.

How is bowel cancer diagnosed?

• Rectal examination
• Abdominal examination
• Blood count
• A test for blood in the bowel motions
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Colonoscopy.

Treatments

Most people will have surgery. Some will be offered a combination of two or more treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Treatment depends upon the size of the cancer, and its location. Some men will have chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to surgery.

Reducing your risk of bowel cancer

Eating more fibre (fruit, vegetables and whole grains), eating less red meat and getting regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight may help lower the risk of bowel cancer.

The causes of bowel cancer are not fully known. A family history of bowel cancer, increasing age (risk increases with age) and a personal history of bowel disease (e.g. inflamatory bowel disease) are risk factors you are not able to change.

Should those at increased risk be checked?

Advice as to who should be checked, what tests they should have and how often has been developed by the New Zealand Guidelines Group. Their leaflet called “Bowel Cancer: Information for people at increased risk of bowel cancer” is available from your family doctor or the New Zealand Guidelines Group (www.nzgg.org.nz).

For more detailed information please contact 0800 CANCER (226 237) or visit the Cancer Society's website www.cancernz.org.nz.

This Key Fact Sheet was written in July 2008 by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Key Fact Sheets are reviewed every two years with the help of cancer experts and the public.

Click here to download a bowel cancer fact sheet