The 9 early warning signs of cancer no man should ever ignore – from back pain to peeing in the night

A MAN is told he has cancer every three minutes in the UK.

And cases are increasing, according to the NHS – especially among male folk.

In the UK, around 193,000 men are diagnosed with cancer each year, compared to 177,000 women.

For decades doctors have known that men are more likely to develop cancer than women.

Men have a one in two chance of being diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes; for women, the chance is one in three.

Scientists once believed that the increased risk was tied to lifestyle differences.

But even as more women started smoking, drinking and joining the workforce, the incidence of cancer remained consistent.

New figures show that among men there was a seven percent increase in overall cancer diagnoses in 2022, from 167,917 to 180,877.

This, NHS officials say, was mainly due to the increase in prostate cancers which rose by more than a quarter to 54,732. 

But there is hope, as the earlier the signs are directed, the more likely the cancer can be treated and cured.

If you have suddenly noticed unexplained weight loss or blood on your stool, see the doctor to get the all-clear to ensure these symptoms are not a sign of something more sinister.

Changing the face of men’s health

Today is November 1, which marks the start of the Movember campaign to raise money and awareness for men’s health.

The Movember movement, which began in 2003, focuses on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

“A cancer diagnosis is always worrying,” Professor Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick said.

“The good news is that with improved diagnostic tests and treatments, cancer survival has doubled over the last 50 years in the UK,” the expert added.

“Diagnosing cancer early provides the best chance of successful treatment and cure.”

Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant for www.patient.info, added: “It is always sad to hear that anyone has been diagnosed with cancer, and most cancers become more common with age. 

According to Cancer Research UK, the five most common cancers in men include prostate, lung, bowel, melanoma skin cancer, and head and neck.

Knowing early symptoms can help you get treatment sooner to better your chances of remission.

According to Professor Lawerence, early-warning cancer symptoms in men can include the following.

1. Blood in urine

If you have blood in your urine, you shouldn’t ignore it.

This is a typical symptom of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, with over 20,500 Brits diagnosed each year.

The deadly condition is more common in older adults, with most new cases diagnosed in people aged 60 and above.

Because the symptoms can be quite vague, around a quarter of all cases are diagnosed late.

The cruel disease kills around half of all those who have it, according to the charity Action Bladder Cancer UK.

2. Blood in poo

Blood on your poo or bleeding while sitting on the loo can be an early sign of colon, rectum or bowel cancer.

This is especially concerning if the bleeding persists.

Bowel cancer is now the third most common cancer in the UK.

Around 43,000 Brits are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, with 268,000 living with the disease today.

It is the UK’s second deadliest cancer, claiming 16,500 lives each year.

3. Change in bowel habits

The occasional bowel problem is normal and is nothing to worry about.

However, frequent bouts of diarrhoea and constipation may also indicate either bowel or rectal cancer.

4. Pain in your tummy and indigestion

It’s normal to have tummy aches from time to time. This is especially true if you’ve indulged in fried fatty foods.

However, experiencing tummy pain at the top of your stomach accompanied by lots of ingestion could indicate stomach cancer.

The disease affects about 7,300 people each year in the UK, and it leads to around 5,000 deaths.

Men are twice as likely as women to develop stomach cancer.

5. Unexplained weight loss

Maintaining a healthy weight as you age becomes more difficult, so you might consider weight loss a positive thing.

But sudden and unexplained weight loss can indicate a serious health problem, including almost any type of cancer.

6. Pain in your back

Back pain is a common cause of disability, but very few men know it may be a symptom of cancer.

Some cancer symptoms, including an achy back, may not show until it has spread to other parts of your body, such as the bones of your spine.

For example, prostate cancer is especially prone to spread to the bones and may cause these symptoms within your hip bones and lower back.

7. Unusual lumps

Unusual lumps cropping up anywhere on the body cause concern.

Men should look for unusual growths in the testicles, as this could be a sign of testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer is diagnosed around 2,300 times every year in the UK and is the 17th most common cancer in the country.

It affects younger men, but experts do not know exactly what causes it.

8. A persistent cough

It’s quite normal to cough now and again, especially in the winter when many respiratory viruses are floating about.

However, a persistent cough can be a sign of lung cancer.

Lung cancer accounts for around 13 per cent of all new cases of the disease each year, and each day, around 130 people are told they have the illness.

It is the UK’s biggest killer, with more than 35,000 losing their lives every year.

9. Peeing at night

Being woken up at night by the need to wee is a pretty common experience as men get older.

But it doesn’t necessarily make it ‘normal’.

It might be down to a hormonal imbalance, or it could be a sign of prostate cancer.

The disease – which affects one in eight men, according to Prostate Cancer UK – might not cause any noticeable symptoms at first because of the way the cancer grows.

But signs can include:

• Difficulty starting to urinate or emptying your bladder
• A weak flow when you urinate
• A feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly
• Dribbling urine after you finish urinating
• Needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night
• A sudden need to urinate – you may sometimes leak urine before you get to the toilet

If you experience these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. But it’s a good idea to get them checked out by a GP