Men's Health and the Excess Burden of Cancer in Men

ContextMen seem to be at greater risk of both developing and dying from those cancers that should affect men and women equally.ObjectiveIn this review, we argue for a more proactive approach to be adopted in relation to men's increased susceptibility to cancer.Evidence acquisitionCancer data from Cancer Research UK and the UK National Cancer Intelligence Network were reviewed.Evidence synthesisIn the United Kingdom, men have a 69% higher mortality rate and a 62% higher incidence rate for the major cancers, which should affect men and women equally. The rate of premature death is correspondingly high, with more than 37 000 additional years of life presumably lost for working-age men (15–64 yr) as a result of death from cancer. This pattern is repeated elsewhere but has received little attention.ConclusionsIt is unclear why men are at greater risk, but a more proactive approach should be taken to identify this issue as worthy of exploration and to reach out to men at risk.