Post Date December, 02 2023
Why are men more likely to develop cancer?
The incidence of almost all types of cancer is higher in men than in women.
In some cases, the difference may be small, perhaps only a few percentage points, but the incidence rate of some cancers in men is two to three times that in women.
According to data from the National Cancer Institute of the United States, men have a 20% higher risk of cancer than women, with approximately 150000 new cases of cancer in men each year.
Although there has always been a gap in the risk of cancer between men and women, the reasons for this difference are not clear.
In the past, it was believed that men smoked more or were more often exposed to hazardous chemical environments, but later studies have shown that this explanation is not sufficient.
Because even if the smoking rate has declined and the occupational pattern has changed, men are still more likely to suffer from cancer than women in terms of the prevalence rate of various cancers, including some kidney cancer, bladder cancer cancer and oral cancer related to tobacco.
In a new study, a group of scientists in Boston provide a genetic explanation for the age-old puzzle of men being more prone to cancer.
They believe that female cells carry additional copies of genes that protect them from uncontrolled cell growth. The research is published in the journal Nature Genetics.
Previous research has found that a type of leukemia is associated with a mutation in the KDM6A gene, which is located on the X chromosome, which determines whether a person is male or female (female cells carry two X chromosomes, while male cells have an X chromosome and a short Y chromosome).
If KDM6A is a tumor suppressor gene responsible for preventing uncontrolled cell division, its mutations may lead to cancer.
One might think that women are more susceptible to mutations because they have two X chromosomes. In fact, during the process of embryo formation, one of the X chromosomes in female cells is closed, so the KDM6A mutation is only active on the active X chromosome. Therefore, the impact on female cell division is the same as that on men.
Facts have shown that certain genes on the inactivated X chromosome in female cells can "escape" some state and function shutdowns, and the "awakened" genes can precisely replicate KDM6A. These "beneficial" copies are sufficient to prevent cell cancer.
According to this theory, the reason why cancer is more common in men is that only one copy of the EXITS gene in male cells requires a harmful mutation to cause canceration. In contrast, female cells require mutations in both copies to become cancerous.
Research has found that nearly 800 genes exist only on the X chromosome, and six of them are more prone to mutations in male cells. Researchers believe that among the genes prone to mutation in male cells, only a few are found on the X chromosome, and several of them are known tumor suppressor genes that can avoid inactivation of the X chromosome. Therefore, it can fully prove the previous hypothesis. In female cells, the protection provided by functional copies of certain genes may help explain why women have a lower incidence rate of cancer.
Men have 14 cancer signals to know
1
Persistent cough
When it comes to coughing, most people think of colds, flu, and allergies. However, a persistent cough (three to four weeks) can be a symptom of cancer such as lung cancer. These details can determine whether further tests are needed to rule out cancer.
Even if it's not cancer, these tests can help you know the cause of the pain and take the necessary treatment.
2
Changes in testicles
Testicular cancer is more likely to occur in men aged 20 to 39. The American Cancer Society recommends that male testicular testing should be a routine examination. Some doctors recommend self examination once a month.
Attention should be paid to testicular enlargement or contraction. In addition, testicular swelling or swelling, as well as a feeling of falling and swelling, should not be ignored. Some testicular cancers occur very quickly, so early detection is particularly necessary.
3
Lymph node changes
If a male has a lump or swelling in his axillary or cervical lymph nodes, it is necessary to examine the relevant tissues to determine the cause, such as infection; If there is no infection, a biopsy is needed to rule out cancer.
4
Fever
Many cancers can cause fever, which is often caused by the spread of cancer and its infiltration into other parts. Fever can also be caused by blood cancer, such as lymphoma or leukemia.
5
Rapid weight loss
If you lose 10% of your weight for unknown reasons in a short period of time, it is necessary to promptly identify the cause. This may be a signal of cancer.
6
Abdominal pain and depression
Patients with abdominal pain and depression need to be examined promptly.
Research has found that there is a close relationship between depression and the occurrence of pancreatic cancer. In addition, abdominal pain accompanied by jaundice, stool color changes (often gray stool) also need attention. Chest X-ray examination, CT scan, MRI, and other examinations can be performed.
7
Fatigue
Similar to fever, fatigue can also be caused by cancer growth. Symptoms of fatigue can occur early in leukemia, colon cancer, or stomach cancer.
8
Breast tissue accumulation
If a man experiences tissue accumulation in the breast, he needs to be examined by a doctor in a timely manner.
The American Cancer Society states that attention should be paid to the following signs of breast cancer in men that are similar to those in women:
Sunken or wrinkled skin;
Nipple depression;
The skin of the nipple or breast is red or scaly;
Nipple discharge.
Your doctor may recommend using mammograms, biopsies, or other tests to obtain a correct diagnosis.
9
Dysphagia
Dysphagia may be a sign of gastrointestinal cancers such as esophageal cancer. Doctors will examine the esophagus and stomach through medical history, chest X-ray, and even endoscopy.
10
Skin changes
Attention should be paid to the presence of moles and pigmentation that can lead to skin cancer, as well as sudden abnormal bleeding of the skin.
11
Abnormal bleeding
If there is bleeding in a part of the body that has never occurred before, such as coughing up blood, blood in the stool, or blood in the urine, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. For example, in addition to hemorrhoids, colon cancer can also cause blood in the stool.
12
Oral abnormalities
Smokers need to be alert to oral or tongue leukoplakia, which can be caused by mucosal leukoplakia and can easily lead to oral cancer.
13
Abnormal urination
As men age, they experience frequent and urgent urination problems. If symptoms become increasingly severe, attention needs to be paid to determining whether prostate hyperplasia occurs.
Detection of prostate specific antigen in the blood can rule out the possibility of prostate cancer. If prostate abnormalities occur and prostate specific antigen levels increase, a biopsy is required.
14
Indigestion
Many men, especially elderly men, may consider severe indigestion as a "heart disease". Persistent indigestion may be a signal of cancer in the esophagus, throat, and stomach.
