Finding cancer early

Bowel cancer

When found early, bowel cancer treatment is more successful. Men over 50 should consider being screened for bowel cancer every two years using a faecal occult blood test (FOBT). FOBT detects small traces of blood in bowel motions. People with a positive FOBT result are referred to a specialist for more tests for bowel cancer. Men should talk to their GP about screening for bowel cancer. Some men over 55 will be eligible for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Find out more about bowel cancer screening.

Skin cancer

Regular skin checks increase your chance of finding skin cancer at an early and highly treatable stage. You should check your whole body, not just areas normally exposed to the sun. If you see a new spot on your skin - one that has changed in size, shape or colour or a non-healing sore - see your doctor as soon as you can. Find out more about checking for skin cancer.

Prostate cancer

Currently there is no agreed population screening test for prostate cancer. Commonly, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal examination (DRE) are used and find many cancers early. These tests can suggest a man has cancer when he does not (false positive) and may miss cancers (false negative). It is not possible to distinguish between aggressive prostate cancers or those that would do no harm.

Finding an aggressive prostate cancer early improves outcomes, but finding an indolent (non-aggressive) prostate cancer early may result in unnecessary treatment. Talk to your GP about the pros and cons of getting tested for prostate cancer. Find our more about prostate cancer testing.

Testicular cancer

There is no early detection test for testicular cancer. Young men should know what their testicles normally look and feel like and seek medical attention if they notice any changes, particularly new lumps or growth.

Return to Men and Cancer page.