Gender identity should not keep you from having this conversation. Starting at age 50, men should talk to their health care provider about the benefits and limitations of prostate cancer screening.
Before being tested, men should receive this information so they can learn about the pros and cons of testing. This is because research has not yet proven that the possible benefits of testing outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that men make an informed decision with a health care provider about whether to be tested for prostate cancer. Having one or more close relatives with prostate cancer also increases a man’s risk. African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than men of other races. Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in men who are 65 or older. All men can do things to help reduce their cancer risk and be healthy.
The American Cancer Society can help you learn more about the cancers that men are most at risk for, as well as how to find these cancers early. Missing routine cancer screenings can lead to cancer being diagnosed at a later stage, when it’s sometimes harder to treat. Negative experiences with health care providers: Fear of having a negative experience with a health care provider can lead some men to delay or avoid medical care, especially routine care such as early detection tests.This makes it harder for many gay and bisexual men to get quality health care. Low rates of health insurance: Some health insurance policies do not cover unmarried partners.This can make it harder to have a comfortable relationship with a provider. Fear of discrimination: Some gay and bisexual men don’t tell their health care providers about their sexual orientation, because they worry about discrimination affecting the quality of health care they receive.They face a number of barriers to getting the health care and cancer screening tests they need, including: Research suggests that some gay and bisexual men receive less health care than heterosexual men. Knowing about these cancers and what you can do to help prevent them or find them early (when the cancer is small and might be easier to treat) may help save your life. Some gay men, especially those who are HIV positive, might have a higher risk of anal cancer. Some younger men might be at risk of testicular cancer and Hodgkin Lymphoma. The most common types of cancer among men in the US are skin, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer.