Men are disproportionately affected by a number of health conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (as shown in NHS datasets and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) public health profiles). Life expectancy data also shows that men live on average 4 years fewer than women (79.1 versus 83.0 years in England, respectively).

Each year about 36,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the most common cancer in men. It mainly affects men aged over 50.

Symptoms:

• difficulty in starting to pass urine
• a weak, sometimes intermittent flow of urine
• dribbling of urine before and after urinating
• a frequent or urgent need to pass urine
• rarely, blood in your urine or semen and pain when passing urine

These symptoms aren’t always caused by prostate cancer but if you have them, see your GP.

Find out more about the symptoms, causes and diagnosis of prostate cancer by using the resources below.

Resources

• NHS – Prostate cancer

Testicular cancer, though the most common cancer in young men, it is still quite rare. With 2,000 new cases being diagnosed each year, this makes it the biggest cause of cancer related death in 15–35-year-old males. It accounts for around 70 deaths a year within the UK alone.

What to look out for

The most common symptom of testicular cancer is swelling or a pea-sized lump in one of the testes (balls). There is no current screening test therefore it is important that you look out for the following signs and symptoms.

• A dull ache, or sharp pain, in your testicles, or scrotum, which may come and go
• A feeling of heaviness in your scrotum
• A dull ache in your lower abdomen
• A sudden collection of fluid in your scrotum
• Fatigue, and generally feeling unwell.

Resources

• NHS – Testicular cancer

It’s estimated that one man in 10 has a problem related to having sex, such as premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction. Find our more on the NHS website.

NHS website

The NHS website has a wealth of information and resources. You can look up symptoms and conditions, find out how to treat common health issues, get advice on support available, download useful apps and much, much more.

If you are unsure about anything you have read or any other medical matter please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.