Cancer is the second leading cause of death in men according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If it hasn’t affected you, it has likely affected someone you know. It’s necessary to know and understand the early signs of cancer in men and what to do if you have one of them.
It’s important to note that the cancer signs listed below are not an exhaustive list. Cancer can present in multiple ways and shapes. If you have one of these signs it is also not definitively cancer, and you need to talk to your doctor to help you determine what the symptoms indicate. Learn more below about the early signs of cancer in men.
Over the years your skin is exposed to UV light and other environmental irritants that can change its appearance. The CDC tells us that men are more prone to skin cancer if they have a “family history of skin cancer, a large number of moles or unusual moles, fair skin, or tan indoors or outdoors.” While every skin change is not skin cancer, there are specific changes that spark concern.
It can be hard to determine if a new spot is concerning for skin cancer, so the ABCDE acronym can help. As the CDC explains, A is for asymmetry, does the mole have any irregularities in it? B is for border, are the edges irregular? C is for color, does the color change anywhere in the mole? D is for diameter, is it larger than a pea? And E is for evolving, has the mole changed in any way? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to talk to your doctor.