Cancer

What to Know, What to Do

Cancer results from a glitch in your body’s normal process of replacing old cells with healthy new ones. If something goes awry, malignant cells may develop and multiply out of control, eventually invading nearby organs and tissues.

When cancerous cells metastasize or spread to other parts of the body — for example, if colon cancer spreads to the lymph nodes — cancer becomes more difficult to treat.

Among men in the United States, prostate cancer is the most frequent type of cancer, followed by lung and colorectal cancer. Your risk of developing cancer may depend on a number of variables, including genetics, diet, lifestyle and even the type of cancer itself.

Talk to your doctor

Talk to your doctor about your personal risk factors and what you can do to minimize them. Also, be sure to get recommended screenings such as prostate exams and colonoscopies, as these are key to helping detect cancers at their earliest stages.

It’s common for men to ignore warning signs or write them off as nothing serious. Play it safe — get any unusual symptoms, especially fatigue or unintentional weight loss of 10 pounds or more, checked out by a physician. The sooner most cancers are diagnosed, the greater the chances of successful treatment.

If you are diagnosed with cancer, your physician will recommend treatment options depending on various factors, including the stage of the cancer, or how advanced the disease is. Treatments may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and medication.

Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and nutritional supplements, may help ease symptoms and provide physical and emotional relief.

Take Action

• Talk to your primary care doctor about your personal risk factors. Don’t have a doctor? Call 1-800-SCRIPPS (800-727-4777) for help with finding one, or see our doctor finder.
• Scripps Cancer Center offers a number of programs to prevent, diagnose, treat and recover from cancer.
• See our upcoming for support groups, exercise classes, seminars and more.