Did you know that 39.5% of men will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetimes? This means that it's likely that you could be one of these individuals who receive a diagnosis.
Hearing that you have cancer isn't great news by any means, but thanks to new technologies and treatments, you'll have a better shot at surviving today than ever before. In fact, many cancers are considered reversible if they're found in the early stages of development.
To catch cancer early, you should invest in cancer screening blood tests. These can help catch cancer signs in the body before the cancer cells have a chance to spread elsewhere.
Keep reading to learn more about cancer screening blood tests and how you can look for cancer symptoms in men.
What Is Cancer in Men?
Cancer is a very broad term that describes the group of diseases that occur with DNA mutation in human cells. More specifically, these DNA mutations and other cellular changes cause uncontrolled growth, division, and movement of cells throughout the body.
Normally, the body has a built-in mechanism to stop these kinds of problems in the body. However, cancer cells lack the components that would normally make them stop.
These are the most common cancers in men:
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Melanoma skin cancer.
Risk Factors for Cancer in Men
Cancer is a multifactorial disease, which means that several different factors can contribute to one case. Here are some of the most notable risk factors of cancer that we can prevent:
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Excess body weight
- Poor nutrition
- Physical inactivity
- Prolonged sun exposure
- Exposure to radiation
- Exposure to some chemicals
In addition to these preventable factors, there are other factors that aren't preventable. These include the following:
- Age
- Genetics
- Ethnicity
- Sex
You can't change your family history or your biological sex, but you can make lifestyle choices that can help reduce the risk of developing cancer. Focus on the risk factors you can control rather than obsessing about the ones you can't.
Causes of Cancer in Men
Cancer develops when there is a mutation in the DNA in your body cells. DNA tells the body's cells how to perform, grow, and divide. Without these explicit instructions, cell growth can run wild.
Gene mutations can cause cells to grow rapidly without correcting mistakes in DNA errors. These cells will also lose the stop mechanism that would tell them when to stop uncontrolled cell growth.
You could be born with these gene mutations or develop them after birth. Mutations can also be caused by the following:
- Smoke
- Radiation
- Viruses
- Carcinogens
- Obesity
- Hormones
- Inflammation
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cancer in Men?
The signs and symptoms of cancer in men vary depending on the body part that the cancer cells are affecting. However, most cancers have the same general signs and symptoms:
- A lump under the skin
- An area of thickening on the skin
- General fatigue
- Unintended weight changes
- Skin changes
- Changes in urinary frequency
- Changes in bowel habits
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Hoarseness
- Indigestion after eating
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Fevers
- Night sweats
- Easily bruising
These signs and symptoms are located all over the body because cancer is a systemic disease. Even before cancer is able to spread throughout the body, it causes hormonal and metabolic changes. This causes a plethora of symptoms.
How Is Cancer in Men Diagnosed?
A cancer diagnosis occurs with a full workup. Your doctor may conduct a physical exam, cancer screening laboratory tests, imaging tests, and biopsies as needed. Depending on the symptoms you're experiencing, the physician will look at different areas of your body.
For example, if you're complaining of abdominal pain, they will get lab and image tests that pertain to the abdomen.
These tests can help healthcare workers determine if you have cancerous cells. Along with a biopsy, they can determine whether the cancer is benign or malignant.
The Lab Tests to Screen, Diagnose, and Monitor Cancer in Men
The best way to catch cancer is through screening tests. These tests aim to catch the disease early before it can cause any lasting damage to your body.
At Ulta Lab Tests, our cancer screening blood panel for men looks at the following tests:
- Alpha-Fetoprotein - an elevated value suggests the presence of primary liver cancer or germ cell tumor
- CA 125 - an elevated value suggests that you may have cancer as it measures cancer antigens in the blood
- CA 19-9 - a protein that scientists associate with pancreatic cancer
- CEA - an elevated level suggests that you may have cancer of the colon, rectum, prostate, ovary, lung, thyroid, or liver
- PSA Total - the prostate-specific antigen that looks for signs of prostate cancer
By looking at all of these values, you and your healthcare provider can make better decisions regarding your health. If one of these tests results come back out of range, you need to get medical care to determine the stage and severity of your condition.
Get the Cancer Screening Blood Tests You Need at Ulta Lab Tests
If you think that you might have cancer, you need cancer screening blood tests.
The earlier that you detect cancer, the better the outlook of your cancer treatment will be. Early diagnosis is key when it comes to longevity and quality of life.
Ulta Lab Tests provides accurate and reliable tests that can help you make more informed decisions about your healthcare. Here are a few of the benefits you can take advantage of with Ulta Lab Tests:
- You'll get secure and confidential results
- You don't need health insurance
- You don't need a physician's referral
- You'll get affordable pricing
- We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Order your cancer screening blood tests today. You'll get your results online in about 24 to 48 hours for most tests that we offer.
Take control of your health with Ulta Lab Tests today!
