men are three times more likely to develop skin cancer than women and almost twice as likely to die from it. however, research from uk-based cancer charity macmillan found that one in five (18 percent) men admitted to never wearing sun cream compared with just over one in 20 women (six percent).
protect yourself with a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a long-sleeved t-shirt, especially if you’re working outside. check your skin particularly any moles regularly -about half of all melanomas start with a change to previously normal-looking skin, such as a dark area or an abnormal new mole.
others start with a change in the appearance of an already existing mole. if you notice any changes in your skin, ask your gp for advice.
7-know your prostate risk
prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in canada. one in nine canadian men will develop it in their lifetime.
early detection is key to successful treatment but as there are often no symptoms until the disease is advanced, it can be tricky to spot.
“your risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, explains michelle. “but men who are black, and those who have a family history (a brother or father with prostate cancer), are 2.5 times more likely to get it.”
“if you’re
50
, you should be talking to your doctor about your prostate risk and whether you might need a psa (prostate-specific antigen) blood test,” says michelle. “if you’re black or if you have a family history of the disease, you need to start that conversation at
45
.”