Cancer Facts for Men
Some of the most common cancers in men are prostate, lung, colorectal, and skin cancers. Knowing what you can do to help prevent these cancers or find them early, when treatment is more likely to be successful, might help save your life.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the US, other than skin cancer. It's also the second-leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. About 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
It can happen at any age, but the chances go up as a man gets older. Most prostate cancers are found in men over the age of 65. Prostate cancer occurs more often in men of African ancestry than in men of other races and ethnicities. And men of African ancestry often get prostate cancer at a younger age.
Having one or more close relatives with prostate cancer also increases a man’s risk of having prostate cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends screening for prostate cancer with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.
For men at average risk, screening should be done every 2 years from ages 50 through 69 years.
Black men and some men with a family history of prostate cancer are at higher risk of getting prostate cancer.
For Black men, screening should be done every year from ages 45 through 69 years.
For non-Black men with a family history of prostate cancer in a close relative (father, brother, or son), screening should be done from ages 45 through 69 years:
- Get screened every year if a close relative was diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, or if more than 1 close relative has had prostate cancer.
- Get screened every 2 years if only 1 close relative was diagnosed with prostate cancer and it was at age 65 or older.
For men aged 70 to 74, the benefits of screening are less certain. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether screening makes sense for you. If you continue, you should get screened every 2 years.
For men aged 75 or older, and for men not expected to live at least 10 years, screening is not recommended.
For most men, a high (abnormal) PSA level should be followed by a repeat PSA test to confirm this, and then by other tests, such as prostate MRI and/or biomarker tests, before getting a prostate biopsy.
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related death in all men.
Alaska Native people have the highest rates of colorectal cancer and are most likely to die from the disease compared to other racial or ethnic groups.
While colorectal cancer rates are dropping overall, rates in people younger than 50 years are rising. Colorectal cancer has now become the most common cause of cancer-related death in this group.
Some factors that increase colorectal cancer risk include excess body weight, type 2 diabetes, smoking, a diet high in red and processed meats, physical inactivity, alcohol use, and a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps.
Regular colorectal cancer screening helps prevent colorectal cancer or find it early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
Most colorectal cancers start with a polyp – a small growth in the colon or rectum. Certain screening tests can remove polyps before they turn into cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends the following for people at average risk for colorectal cancer:
- Everyone should start regular screening at age 45.
- People who are in good health and with a life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through age 75.
- For people ages 76 to 85, the decision to be screened should be based on a person’s preferences, life expectancy, health, and screening history.
- People over age 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening.
Screening tests for colorectal cancer
Screening for colorectal cancer can be done with different types of tests.
Stool-based tests
These tests look for signs of cancer in a person’s stool. Options include:
- Highly sensitive fecal immunochemical test (FIT)* every year
- Highly sensitive guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)* every year
- Multi-targeted stool DNA (mt-sDNA) test* (original or next generation) every 3 years
- Multi-targeted stool RNA (mt-sRNA) test* every 3 years
Visual (structural) exams of the colon and rectum
These tests look inside the colon and rectum for any abnormal areas. Options include:
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
- CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy)* every 5 years
- Sigmoidoscopy* every 5 years
Blood-based tests
Blood-based tests* check for signs of colorectal cancer in a sample of a person’s blood. While these tests are an option, they’re not preferred at this time. They should only be used if you’re not willing to get a stool-based test or visual screening exam.
*If a person gets screened with a test other than colonoscopy, any abnormal test result should be followed up with colonoscopy.
There are some differences between these tests to consider, but the most important thing is to get screened, no matter which test you choose.
If you’re at high risk
If you're at high risk of colorectal cancer you might need to start screening before age 45, be screened more often, or get specific tests. You might be at higher risk if you have:
- A personal history of polyps, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or radiation to your abdomen (belly) or pelvic area
- A family history of polyps, colorectal cancer, or a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome
Talk to a healthcare provider about which tests might be good options for you and to your insurance provider about your coverage. If you don't have insurance or can't afford cancer screening, find free and low-cost screening options.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men in the US and the leading cause of cancer death.
Factors that increase the risk of lung cancer include tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, asbestos, air pollution, and cancer-causing chemicals. Having had previous radiation therapy to your lungs or a personal or family history of lung cancer can also increase your risk.
The American Cancer Society recommends yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan for people who:
- Are ages 50 to 80 years and smoke or used to smoke
AND
- Have at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking
A pack-year is equal to smoking 1 pack of cigarettes per day for a year. For example, a person could have a 20 pack-year history by smoking 1 pack a day for 20 years or by smoking 2 packs a day for 10 years.
Before deciding to get screened, people should talk to their healthcare provider about the purpose of screening, how it's done, the benefits, limitations, and possible harms of screening. People who still smoke should be counseled about quitting and offered resources to help them quit.
Smoking tobacco is the leading cause of cancer. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
If you smoke, takes steps to quit using tobacco. You can also call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit Empowered to Quit for help quitting.
Other ways you can help lower your risk:
- Avoid radon exposure.
- Stay away from secondhand smoke.
- Avoid or limit exposure to cancer-causing chemicals at home or in your workplace.
Skin cancer
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US. People of any skin tone can get skin cancer. It's also one of the easiest cancers to prevent or find early.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes most skin cancers. Tanning booths and sun lamps also expose you to UV rays that can cause cancer.
Practicing sun safety is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk of skin cancer:
- Seek shade and limit time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun's rays are strongest.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 on exposed skin all year round. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating, even if it's waterproof.
- Wear protective clothing, sunglasses that have UV protection, and a hat.
- Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps.
The best way to catch skin cancer early is to check your skin for changes. Many healthcare providers suggest checking your skin about once a month.
- Know what the moles and spots on your skin look like and report any changes to a healthcare provider right away.
- Ask about having a skin exam done during your regular health checkups.
Testicular cancer
Although testicular cancer can happen at any age, it is diagnosed most often in men between the ages of 20 and 34. White, American Indian, and Alaska Native men are several times more likely to get testicular cancer than Black, Asian American, or Pacific Islander men.
Other things that increase a person's risk for testicular cancer:
- Undescended testicle (a testicle that hasn't dropped, also known as cryptorchidism)
- A personal or family history of testicular cancer
- HIV infection, especially those with AIDS
There aren't any recommended screening tests for testicular cancer but the American Cancer Society recommends that men learn the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer. Some doctors suggest all men check their testicles once a month after puberty.
Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer can include:
- A lump, swelling, or pain in one testicle
- Heaviness or aching in the lower abdomen (belly) or scrotum
- Breast growth or soreness
If you notice any changes in the way your testicles look or feel, talk to a doctor right away.
What else you can do to help reduce your cancer risk
Almost half of all adult cancers might be prevented by things we can do or change. To help keep your cancer risk low:
- Stay away from tobacco.
- Be as physically active as you can.
- Eat a healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Avoid or limit highly processed foods, red or processed meats, sugary drinks, and refined grains.
- Get to and stay at a healthy weight.
- It’s best not to drink alcohol. If you do drink, have no more than 2 drinks per day for men.
- Protect your skin from the sun.
- Know yourself, your family history, and your risks.
- Get regular checkups and recommended cancer screening tests.
- Written by
- References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2026. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2026.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2025-2026. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2025.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cancer and men. Accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/features/cancer-and-men.html on January 12, 2026.
Hoffman RM, Wolf AMD, Etzioni R, et al. American Cancer Society guideline for the early detection of prostate cancer, 2026. CA Cancer J Clin. 2026; e70112. doi:10.3322/caac.70112.
National Cancer Institute. SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Testicular cancer. Accessed at https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/testis.html on January 16, 2026.
Siegel RL, Wagle NS, Jemal A. Leading Cancer Deaths in People Younger Than 50 Years. JAMA. Published online January 22, 2026. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.25467
Wolf AMD, Fontham ETH, Church TR, et al. Colorectal cancer screening for average-risk adults: 2018 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68(4):250-281. doi:10.3322/caac.21457
Wolf AMD, Hoffman RM, Walter LC, et al. Colorectal cancer screening: An update to the American Cancer Society guideline, 2026. CA Cancer J Clin. 2026;e70083. doi:10.3322/caac.70083. Epub 2026 May 27.
Wolf, AMD, Oeffinger, KC, Shih, YCT, et al. Screening for lung cancer: 2023 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin. 2023. doi:10.3322/caac.21811
Last Revised: November 12, 2026
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