Cancer cells can spread to other parts of your body, so early detection is key. They may form a mass called a tumour. Many tumours are not cancerous and are not a serious threat but all should be looked at by a doctor. More men die of lung cancer alone than women die of both lung and breast cancer. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men.
Signs are hoarseness, chronic cough or coughing up blood, or unresolved pneumonia.
It is not easily treated, although early detection helps. Much of the rest is caused by workplace hazards, particularly if you work with asbestos, in nickel refining or uranium mining. More than half of men over 50 in Canada develop a growth in the prostate gland and if you live to 80 or 90, it is extremely likely you will have to deal with cancer or other prostate problem. Prostate cancer is estimated to rise by three times over the next thirty years, faster than breast or many other cancers. If you are over 50 you should get a yearly prostate exam by your doctor.