Many men unaware of cancer risk, survey shows

Only one in 10 Irish men is aware of the early warning signs of cancer and when confronted with symptoms many do nothing, new research has shown.

The study of men's attitudes to cancer also found that awareness campaigns aimed at educating men about risk factors associated with the disease do not appear to be working.

Carried out for the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) for its Men's Cancer Action week, the national survey also found that less than half of adult males took regular exercise.

The researchers presented men with a list of 11 activities including smoking, drinking alcohol and over-exposure to the sun.

Those surveyed were asked whether these activities were important with regard to reducing their cancer risk. In each of the activities, men's awareness of a cancer risk was lower this year than in a similar survey in 2004.

This year's study also clearly identified a male blind spot when it came to the link between alcohol and cancer with fewer than one in five men aware that forgoing or reducing alcohol could reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

When asked what action they would take if they discovered cancer-like symptoms, 41 per cent of men said they would do nothing because they were afraid what the outcome would be if the symptoms were brought to the attention of a GP. Instead they just hoped the issue would go away.

This view was particularly strong among men in the 35-49 year-old-age group.

Prof John Armstrong, consultant oncologist at St Luke's Hospital and chairman of the ICS, said: "Risk factors for the development of the common cancers in men are age, smoking, having a family history - especially in bowel and prostate cancer - eating a diet high in fat and low in fruit, vegetables and fibre, lack of physical activity, obesity and alcohol."

Only 44 per cent of the 600 men surveyed said they took regular exercise, despite 62 per cent being aware that being active could reduce their risk of certain cancers.

Awareness of the most common cancers for men was also found to be relatively poor, with just 47 per cent aware that prostate cancer was the most prevalent.

Around 1,370 men contract prostate cancer each year, meaning that one in every 14 men will face the disease at some stage in their lives. More than 500 men die from the disease every year and the disease is a particular issue for men over 50.

The ICS campaign comes shortly after the National Cancer Strategy (June 2006) found that five-year survival rates for men in Ireland suffering from cancer fell below the European average.

The strategy also predicts a 275 per cent increase in prostate cancers over the next 15 years with almost 3,770 new cases a year anticipated by 2020.

Last month the ICS wrote to the Health Service Executive to outline its concern at the low number of consultant urologists in the State.

In a letter, seen by The Irish Times, the ICS says that Ireland has the lowest number of urologists per head of population for any country in Europe. Ireland has 29 urologists, or one for every 135,000 people; in Britain the average is one urologist per every 100,000.

Concern was also expressed that there was no urologist in the southeast or northwest and that urologists in Cork must cover the whole of Munster.

Cancer patients face a six-month waiting list in Dublin, the letter adds.

• The survey was carried out by Behaviour and Attitudes for the ICS.

• Men concerned about their risk of cancer can contact the National Cancer Helpline Freefone at: 1800 200 700 (weekdays 9am to 5pm, Tuesday until 9pm).