Good news for men: the best cancer prevention is your own body. If you manage to stay slim and fit into old age, you optimize your self-healing powers and have a good chance of warding off the threat of cancer on your own. You can take precautions at a young age – without much effort and (almost) without setting foot in a doctor’s surgery. We explain the most important measures for the various stages of life.
Preventive healthcare is certainly not one of the stronger sex’s favorite topics. Renowned American cancer researchers* have therefore produced a guide to cancer prevention specifically tailored to the needs of men at different stages of their lives. A healthy lifestyle is in principle not a question of age, emphasizes Therese Brevers, Director of MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center at the University of Texas. She urges all men to take the tips to heart – even if they are primarily aimed at younger or older men.
Alcohol is not your friend
Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. So keep your hands off cigarettes of all kinds.
Muscles yes, stress no
Sad but true: muscle mass dwindles after the age of 30. You should take countermeasures now at the latest. Targeted strength training stops muscle loss and strengthens your bones. Regular exercise also increases your basal metabolic rate. You burn more calories and don’t put on any flab. A healthy body weight is the cornerstone of your health care. Medical studies indicate that excess kilos increase the risk of cancer.
Men in their 30s have achieved a lot. You have responsibilities at work, perhaps you have started a family. Unfortunately, this responsibility also increases the risk of stress. But chronic stress is a real health risk. It makes you sleep badly, affects your stomach and makes you more susceptible to all kinds of illnesses, including cancer. Make sure you maintain a healthy balance between activity and relaxation and always make time for your own private relaxation breaks, such as a massage or a yoga class. Yes, men can do yoga too! In acute situations, it can help to breathe in and out slowly and calmly.
“No” to the belly
You can prevent the “affluent bulge” with exercise. Regular exercise also keeps your bowels healthy, and a well-functioning digestive system reduces the risk of bowel cancer.
Choose carefully what ends up on your plate. It should be varied and low in fat. Fresh fruit and vegetables, potatoes, rice and wholegrain products are perfect sources of energy. Regularly include fresh fish in your diet. Eat little meat, and if you do, it should be fresh. Be sparing with cheese and sausages and opt for low-fat varieties. Still stumped by the menu? Then ask your partner. Most women are experts when it comes to low-calorie treats!
At 50: old enough for a check-up
A good car needs regular maintenance. The same applies to a mature male body. Sport, a healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption at most and abstaining from nicotine should be the standard program for the “checkbook-maintained” man. In addition, there is an annual basic check-up with the family doctor.
The most common cancer in men grows in the prostate. This is why every man over 45 should have a prostate cancer screening once a year – preferably with a urologist.
Bowel cancer, the second most common type of cancer, also occurs more frequently with increasing age. Malignant tumors in the bowel usually develop from benign mucosal tumors. If these are detected and removed in time, the cancer does not develop in the first place. Go for a colonoscopy. If the findings are inconspicuous, it is sufficient to repeat this examination ten years later.
Make an appointment with a dermatologist. The statutory health insurance companies pay for a skin cancer screening every two years. The doctor will examine your moles and can remove any suspicious cancerous changes in good time.
