1. Fighting back against cancers that affect men:
The bolded text are notes to you as the speaker. They are not part of the presentation, but can be used for your information or to help you if you are asked.
There are opportunities throughout the presentation where you can invite the participants to be involved in the presentation by answering questions.
This presentation is meant to be interactive, as we know that people respond positively to more interactive sessions. Always remember to leave a few extra minutes for questions at the end.
The text [End of notes] will be at the bottom of each slide’s notes, so that if you print the notes, you can be sure the print off contains all the information.
We appreciate you taking the time to give this presentation. Please ensure that if you share personal opinions or recommendations, you are clear with your audience which are your recommendations, and which are those of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Hello,
My name is ________________and I am one of the Canadian Cancer Society [staff/volunteers] dedicated to making cancer history.
Here’s where you can add why you are involved with the Canadian Cancer Society and your personal experience with the Society (including the local office you volunteer with and where it is located).
If you are a cancer survivor and are comfortable talking about your personal experience, you can mention it here. If cancer has touched your family or friends, you might include that here — this makes the speech more personal.
I appreciate being invited here today to talk to you about some of the cancers that affect men and how the Canadian Cancer Society is working towards addressing this.
If you have any questions a long the way, feel free to jump in, if not, I would be happy to take questions at the end as well.
Before we start, I thought I could start by first telling you a bit about the Canadian Cancer, who we are, and why we are here today….
[End of notes]
Cancer prevention and screening
Presentations prepared by: Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, Public Affairs, Prevention
May 2012

2. How we’re fighting cancer
So before we dive into our discussion about cancers that affect men, here’s a bit about who we are and how we’re fighting all types of cancer.
You may be surprised to hear just how many people are touched by this disease … I know I was: Every three minutes, another Canadian is faced with fighting cancer.
It’s for this reason that we’re working tirelessly, alongside our volunteers and donors, to fight back against cancer. Across Ontario we are fighting cancer by:
doing everything we can to prevent cancer
funding research to outsmart cancer
empowering, informing and supporting Canadians living with cancer
advocating for public policies to improve the health of Canadians
rallying Canadians to get involved in the fight against cancer
And it’s thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our donors that we’re having more impact, against more cancers, in more communities, than any other cancer charity.
Speaker – Ask: Do you know any good news about the prevention of cancer?
The good news is …
CLICK
that we know that about half of cancers can be prevented through healthy living and policies that protect the health of Canadians. And that is really good news!!! So today I am here to talk about how we as women can do everything we can to prevent some of the most common cancers.
[End of Notes]
doing everything we can to prevent cancer
funding research to outsmart cancer
empowering, informing and supporting Canadians living with cancer
advocating for public policies to improve the health of Canadians
rallying Canadians to get involved in the fight against cancer

3. What We’ll Discuss Today
definition of cancer
some of the more common cancers that affect men:
lung
colon
prostate
skin
testicular
questions
OK, so let’s really start this presentation. Here’s what we’ll cover [read slide].
We have chosen to focus on these cancers because the first three (lung, colon and prostate cancers) are the leading causes of cancer deaths for men. Testicular cancer is obviously unique to men, and skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for Canadians.
[End of Notes]

4. What is cancer? starts in our cells
I thought it may be helpful to give just a little bit of a biology lesson before diving in, since I know taking a science class was a long time ago for me, I thought others might appreciate a refresher.
Speaker: Ask the participants “True or False. Cancer starts in the cells of the body?” Wait for answers….
To start, our body is made up of millions of cells.
Genes inside these cells order them to grow, work, reproduce and die.
Normally, our cells obey these orders and we remain healthy.
But sometimes the instructions get mixed up, causing the cells to form lumps or tumours, or spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
The lumps or tumours can be benign or malignant. In this case malignant is another word for cancerous. Sometimes cancerous cells will also spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
Cancer is, in fact, a number of diseases. In fact, cancer is 200 different diseases, and even similar cancers can be different in terms of prevention and treatment. This is important because it explains why some cancers are more deadly than others, why some respond better to treatment, and why two people with the same cancer and same stage of disease can respond differently to the same treatment. Different types of cancers, however, often have many similarities.
Cancers are named after the part of the body where they start. For example, cancer that starts in the bladder but spreads to the lung is called bladder cancer with lung metastases. So it make sense that breast cancer starts in cells of the breast etc.
When we talk about cancer we often mention “Risk Factors”.. What do I mean by “risk factor”? Well a risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease… in this case cancer. Reducing risk does not always mean cancer will absolutely not develop. Unfortunately, no-one knows for sure why one person gets cancer and another person does not. But we do know that there are certain things we can do to help reduce our risk of getting cancer or to find any abnormal cell changes early, when treatment is likely to be more successful.
[End of Notes]
starts in our cells
exists when cells do not behave normally
not just one disease
risk factors increase your chances of getting cancer

5. Comparing different men’s cancers
(2010 National Statistics)
Type of cancer
Estimated # of new cases (2012)
Estimated # of deaths (2012)
Lung
13 300
10 800
Colon
13 000
5 000
Prostate
26 500
4 000
Skin
(melanoma and non-melanoma)
600 (melanoma only)
Testicular
940
____
These numbers compare different men’s cancers in Canada in terms of new cases and deaths. These numbers reflect Canadian statistics of cancers in men (Canadian Cancer Statistics 2012).
Note: These numbers are the estimated new cases for selected cancers because the report was released before the end of 2012.
The cancers are ranked according to estimated number of men who died from it in Canada in You can see that lung cancer takes the largest toll: it is the number one cancer that kills men. Colon is the second most common cancer, followed by prostate cancer.
We will also talk about skin cancer (both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers) because, although the number of deaths from melanoma is smaller than for some of the other cancers, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men with about men being diagnosed in 2012.
Speaker: The Canadian Cancer Stats 2012 indicates that non-melanoma skin cancer is estimated to account for 320 deaths in both Canadian men and women. There is not separate estimation for men so we have chosen to just indicate male melanoma deaths.
The last cancer that we will talk about is testicular cancer as it is a bit different from some of the other male cancers in that it affects men at a much earlier age. You will notice that there are no deaths listed for testicular cancers. This is because the survival rate of this type cancer is so high and there are so few deaths.
Speaker: Ask Do any of these statistics surprise you?
[End of Notes]

6. Lung cancer
We are going to start with lung cancer, one of the most preventable of all cancers. Lung cancer is one of the top three most commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada and it is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women. One of the most important things that you can do to reduce your risk of lung cancer is to avoid smoke, both yours and other people’s (what’s called “second-hand smoke”).
[End of Notes]

7. Risk factors smoking tobacco second-hand smoke exposure to asbestos
Lung cancer
Risk factors
So what are risk factors for lung cancer?
As most of you probably already know, the most important risk factors for lung cancer are cigarette smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke.
Other factors that increase the risk of lung cancer include:
exposure to asbestos and some other substances, such as arsenic or drinking water that contains high levels of arsenic, chromium and nickel, especially if you are a smoker
exposure to radon gas
having had lung cancer before
family history of lung cancer
air pollution
[SPEAKER – OPTIONAL information,
Exposure to asbestos: – a group of naturally occurring fibrous materials that are strong, heat resistant, and inexpensive
Asbestos exposure is a particular problem for miners and people who work with asbestos.
Some existing structures, such as older buildings, contain asbestos.
As these structures begin to wear with age or undergo renovation, you can be exposed to asbestos fibres that are released into the air and breathed into lungs. Exposure to asbestos can increase your risk of lung cancer (as well as other cancers and conditions). People who are exposed to asbestos and who use tobacco are at even greater risk of lung cancer than people who smoke or who use asbestos alone. You can reduce your exposure to asbestos by limiting contact with asbestos-containing materials (for small amounts of contained asbestos) or hiring a professional with experience in asbestos removal (for larger asbestos jobs). For more information, visit cancer.ca.
Exposure to radon: – a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that is released through the natural decay of uranium in rocks and soil
People are exposed when air contaminated with radon is inhaled.
For the general population, the most common source of exposure is indoor air, as radon can seep into basements and builds up in poorly ventilated enclosed areas. So, to lower radon levels in the level, make sure you keep your home well-ventilated, seal any cracks in your basement.
For more information, visit our website at cancer.ca.
It is also important to note that some people develop lung cancer without any of these risk factors being present.
[End of Notes]
smoking tobacco
second-hand smoke
exposure to asbestos
exposure to radon
having lung cancer before
family history of lung cancer
air pollution

8. Reducing our risk of lung cancer
Ask: So how do you think that we can decrease our risk of developing lung cancer?
Audience should say “don’t smoke or quit smoking…”
Click: Speaker says “you are right”
If you smoke, the best thing you can do for your health is to quit.
Avoid exposure to first and second-hand smoke;
If you smoke, get a non-smoking buddy to support you as you quit; and
Contact the Smokers’ Helpline for information and support – or at
The Canadian Cancer Society's Smokers' Helpline is a free, confidential telephone service you can call for easy access to a trained quit specialist. We can help you develop a structured “quit plan”, answer your questions about quitting and refer you to services in your community.
Any questions about lung cancer?
The important thing to remember about lung cancer is that it can be mostly prevented by avoiding smoke!
OPTIONAL information, if asked, and depending on the audience: Traditional tobacco has been used by many Aboriginal people in ceremonies, rituals and prayer for thousands of years. Using tobacco in non-traditional ways like smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco or snuff is an abuse of its traditional purpose (Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy, Cancer Care Ontario].
“Light” or “mild” – low tar and low nicotine brands
Many smokers of these brands think they are reducing their health risks from smoking. They believe they inhale less tar compared to regular cigarettes. 
They’re not. Regular smokers who switch to these low tar and low nicotine cigarettes tend to adjust their smoking habits by inhaling deeply or longer or covering up the ventilation holes to get enough nicotine. This also means they are inhaling more chemicals and tar.
[End of Notes]
avoid first and second-hand smoke
if you smoke, get a non-smoking buddy to support you as you quit
reduce exposure to asbestos
and radon

9. Colon Cancer
Let’s move on to colon cancer.
I want to mention that some of the material that you may see, uses the term colon cancer which is a combination of colon and rectal cancers. For simplicity sake I am using the term “colon cancer” to refer to both.
So most colon cancers start in the cells that line the inside of the colon or the rectum. The colon and rectum make up the large intestine (large bowel).
Colon cancer usually grows slowly and in a predictable way. It is very treatable when diagnosed at an early stage.
[End of Notes]
starts in the cells that line the inside of the colon or the rectum
slow and predictable growth
usually treatable when diagnosed early

10. Risk Factors We Can’t Control
Colon cancer
Risk Factors We Can’t Control
Unfortunately, at this stage we don’t know what causes colon cancer, but there are a number of risk factors that we need to be aware of. Some of these factors we can control and some we can’t. Remember risk factors are things that increase our chances of getting cancer in this case colon cancer. Let’s get the bad news over with and look at the ones we can’t do much about. I’ve called these the “risk factors we can’t control”:
age – particularly after 50 years (like many cancers, our risk of colon cancer increases as we get older).
family history of colon cancer - especially if the relative (parent, sibling, child) developed colon cancer before the age of 45 .
having polyps (polyps are small growths on the inner wall of the colon and rectum) These are not cancerous at this stage but may turn into if not treated.
having two conditions referred to as FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis) or HNCC (hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer). Don’t get too bogged down with these names. These conditions are both linked to family history, so the take-home message is to make sure you know your family history and talk to your doctor about any risks linked to a family history of colon cancer.
inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
ethnic background – people of Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish) descent
[End of Notes]
age – particularly after 50
family history of colon cancer
having polyps
having genetic predisposition
inflammatory bowel disease
ethnic background – people of Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish) descent 10

11. Risk Factors We Can Control
Colon cancer
OK, so now we know what risk factors we can’t do much about. On a more positive note and one that we want promote to you …..
there are a number of risk factors which we can control which will help to reduce our risk of getting colon cancer.
These are:
Diet can influence the risk of developing colon cancer
Eating a diet high in red meat (beef, pork, lamb and goat) increases the risk of developing colon cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends limiting yourself to 3 servings of 3 ounces per week.
(If you get a question regarding what other meat is included into this red meat category, we only have enough research so far to say this about the 4 listed here. In time, we will learn more)
Eating processed meats Processed meats are meats preserved by smoking, curing, salting or the addition of preservatives such as nitrates or nitrites. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends eating processed meat only occasionally.  
A diet high in vegetables and fruit is known to lower risk
(A diet high in fibre and low in animal fats also seems to decrease risk, but more research is necessary to be sure)
Alcohol consumption (Alcohol has been linked to colon and a variety of other cancers. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that if you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink: men: drink less than 2 drinks a day; women: drink less than 1 drink a day (pregnant women should avoid alcohol.)
Smoking is still a huge risk factor for many cancers, including colon cancer, and still a challenge to beat! As we saw earlier, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death so make an effort to quit smoking if you do and avoid second-hand smoke).
Physical inactivity - being physically inactive increases your risk of colon cancer, and several other cancers too. And, of course, being active makes us feel good!
Maintaining a healthy body weight can reduce your risk for many cancers; obesity is also a risk factor for other cancers such as breast cancer.
One more thing - Vitamin D is needed for healthy bones and muscles, especially in children and the elderly, and there is growing evidence that vitamin D may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, particularly colon and breast cancers. You can get vitamin D from exposure to sunlight, in your diet (especially if you eat foods fortified with vitamin D), or by taking vitamin supplements. Talk to your doctor about your Vitamin D needs.
[End of Notes]
Risk Factors We Can Control
diet (red meat, processed meat)
alcohol consumption
smoking
physical inactivity
obesity 11

12. Who should be screened? Colon cancer
The screening guidelines for colon cancer are that men and women 50 years and over, who are of average risk i.e., those without a family history and the risk factors we can’t control that we talked about earlier) – should complete and FOBT kit every 2 years. FOBT stands for Fecal Occult Blood Test – I’ll just call it FOBT.
Adults who are at “higher risk” (as defined by Ontario’s colon screening program) should have a ‘colonoscopy’ (a procedure that lets a doctor look at the lining of the entire colon, beyond the rectum and lower colon), beginning at age 50 or 10 years earlier than their relative’s age of diagnosis. Biopsies can be taken and polyps removed during this test. 
Individuals who are at higher risk include those with:
- a first-degree relative with colon cancer (such as a parent, sibling or child)
Other high individuals risk should talk to their doctor about a screening routine. These people include, for example, those with inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease) or those with specific inherited diseases like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC).
Source: based on cancer.ca and coloncancercheck.ca.
[End of Notes]
Average risk
men and women
50 and older
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) at least every two years
High risk
men and women (first-degree relative with colon cancer)
Colonoscopies starting at age 50 or 10 years before age of diagnosed relative
Other high risk
men and women
Talk to your doctor about screening

13. ColonCancerCheck free province-wide colon cancer screening program
screens with FOBT (average risk), colonoscopy (higher risk)
FOBT kits available from your doctor, pharmacist or through ColonCancerCheck directly
follow-up included
Ask: First of all has anyone seen the Invisible Man/Woman commercial on TV?
These TV commercials depicting the invisible men and women are to raise awareness of the ColonCancerCheck program which is the Ontario-wide screening program aimed at reducing deaths from colon cancer by increasing early detection of the disease.
Click
Through this program as per the screening guidelines, people of average risk complete an FOBT kit and people of higher risk have a colonoscopy.
Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about your risk factors and which test is appropriate for you. if you don’t have a doctor, not to worry, you can get help to determine which kit is right for you and if appropriate, receive the FOBT test through ColonCancerCheck or at your local pharmacy. You can go to or call
[End of Notes]
ColonCancerCheck.ca. 2010 13

14. Prostate Cancer starts in cells of prostate gland
sometimes a slow growing cancer
in many cases can be managed or cured
Let’s go back to our school days a bit here and review some anatomy!
Cancers are named after the part of the body where they start. So it makes sense that prostate cancer starts in cells of prostate gland.
Just to make sure that we are all aware of where the prostate is:
The prostate is part of the male reproductive system.
Its main function is to make part of the liquid part of semen.
The prostate is about the size of a large walnut.
It is located close to the rectum just below the bladder at the base of the penis. The prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen through the penis.
The good news (and there is good news!) is that prostate cancer is a slow growing cancer, which means it can be managed or treated at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be successful.
[End of Notes]

15. Risk Factors We Can’t Control
Prostate cancer
Risk Factors We Can’t Control
age – being older than 65
family history
African ancestry
There isn’t a known, single cause of prostate cancer. Some people with prostate cancer do not have any identifiable risk factors. However, you may be at higher risk if you have the following non-modifiable risk factors (this means those risk factors that you can’t change):
You are older than 65 (increasing age is linked to many cancers)
You have a family history of prostate cancer (when we talk about family history, we are usually talking about first degree relative… i.e. brother, father, son)
You are of African ancestry.
We can’t change getting older, having a family history of prostate cancer (although we should talk to our doctor or health care provider to confirm this risk) and our ancestry, but there ARE things we can do to reduce our risk…
Obesity, physical inactivity, eating a diet high in fat, eating a diet extremely high in calcium, exposure to pesticides, and working with a metal called cadmium are all being studied as possible risk factors.
It is possible to develop prostate cancer without having any of these risk factors.
The good news is that there ARE things we can do to reduce our risk… so let’s learn about those now.
[End of Notes]

16. Reducing our risk of prostate cancer
As you can see from this slide, there are a number of things you may be able do to reduce your risk of prostate cancer. You should be seeing a theme here and notice that many of these prevention themes occur across many different cancers. [Speaker: ask audience to read out these prevention suggestions.]
Eating a healthy diet is good for you in general and will reduce your risk of other cancers, and maybe reduce your risk of prostate cancer too. You can:
eat less fat
eat a diet high in vegetables and fruit
get active
[End of Notes]
diet
reduce fat
increase fruits and vegetables
be physically active

17. Early detection signs & symptoms
Prostate cancer
Early detection
In the case of prostate cancer, early detection means knowing what the signs and symptoms are, and talking to your doctor about getting tested.
Signs & Symptoms can include:
need to urinate often, especially at night
weak, decreased or interrupted urine stream
burning or pain during urination
blood in the urine or semen
painful ejaculation
It’s very important to see your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. It might be nothing, but let your doctor help figure that out.
Testing for prostate cancer when you don’t have any symptoms:
The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that all men over the age of 50 years discuss with their doctor or health care provider the potential benefits and risks of early detection of prostate cancer using Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and Digital Rectal Examinations (DRE), so that they can make informed decisions about the use of these tests. Men at higher risk because of family history or those of African ancestry should discuss the need for testing at an earlier age.
Here is a very quick overview of each of these tests:
The DRE is a physical exam of the prostate gland which is used to check for growths in or enlargement of the prostate gland. A tumour in the prostate can often be felt as a hard lump. This may be done as part of a regular examination or to check on symptoms, such as a change in urination. Not all problems of the prostate can be felt through the rectum.
The PSA test is a blood test that measures the level of antigen (protein) produced by the cells of the prostate gland.
If asked…
For prostate cancer, we advise men over 50 to discuss with their doctor about whether they should be tested for prostate cancer. If you are at a higher risk because of your family history or African ancestry, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested from an earlier age. 
The PSA and DRE tests can help detect prostate cancer early, but they can also sometimes miss prostate cancer when it is present, or cause “false alarms”. In some cases, these tests can detect prostate cancer that may not pose a serious threat to your health.
Because there are both risks and benefits to the PSA test, it’s important to talk to your doctor about your personal risk of developing prostate cancer. And to work with your doctor to decide what is best for you.
[End of Notes]
signs & symptoms
testing for prostate cancer when you don’t have symptoms – talk to your doctor about:
PSA: prostate specific antigen (blood test)
DRE – digital rectal exam

18. Skin cancer most common cancer in Canada
types: non-melanoma and melanoma
mostly preventable
UVR is a major risk factor for skin cancer (solar and indoor tanning equipment).
The last cancer that we will address is skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Canada. An estimated Canadians will be diagnosed in 2012.
There are two main types of skin cancer: non-melanoma and melanoma. Melanoma skin cancer is a more serious form of cancer and can be fatal.
Of the new cases of skin cancer in 2012 – will be melanoma. Melanoma skin cancer is a more serious form of cancer and can be fatal.
Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of skin cancer… but if found in time, it is usually treated successfully. (Canadian Cancer Statistics 2012)
There are a number of things we can do to reduce our risk of getting either type of skin cancer while still enjoying the sun!
[End of Notes]

19. Use SunSense reduce your time in the sun during peak times
Skin cancer
Use SunSense
reduce your time in the sun during peak times
seek or create shade
cover up (clothing, hats)
wear sunglasses
apply sunscreen
avoid using indoor tanning equipment
A tan is a sign of damaged skin. The damage also adds up over time so that it is really important that everyone, no matter what their age, does what they can to prevent skin cancer by using their SunSense.
When we talk about SunSense, we mean following all of the recommendations outlined here, with the most important step being to reduce your time in the sun during peak times (usually between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.) or when the UV Index is 3 or more.
Environment Canada's UV Index tell you the strength of the sun’s daily UV rays – the higher the number, the stronger the sun’s rays, the more important it is to protect yourself. If the UV index reaches 3 or more (this is considered “moderate”), it is included in the forecast.
[SPEAKER} – Detail on SunSense Guidelines:
cover Up – choose clothing that covers your arms and legs and is tightly woven and lightweight
wear a wide-brimmed hat
wear sunglasses (even shading, medium to dark leense (grey, brown or green tint), UVA and UVB protection
apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or SPF 30 if you will be out for most of the day (although staying out of the sun is a better option.)].
Avoid Indoor tanning increases the risk of developing melanoma.
Research conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer demonstrated that those who are exposed to indoor tanning equipment before 35 years of age have a 75% increase risk of developing melanoma, the most fatal form of skin cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) urges countries to place restrictions on the use of indoor tanning equipment by youth under 18: the Society supports this.
In fact, in order to protect this group, the Society is supporting a proposed ban the use of indoor tanning by youth under 18.
[End of Notes]

20. Early detection of skin cancer
Check regularly for changes
See your doctor if you notice:
birthmark or mole that changes shape, colour, size, surface
sores that do not heal
new growths on skin
patches of skin that bleed
Before we close, I mentioned earlier that treatment of skin cancer is more successful if treated early. So here are some tips on how you can check your skin.
SPEAKER: Point to the images on the slide and describe
See your doctor if you notice:
birthmark or mole that changes shape, colour, size, surface
sores that do not heal
new growths on skin – pale, pearly nodules that may grow larger and crust, or red, scaly, sharply defined patches
patches of skin that bleed, ooze, swell, itch or become red or bumpy
Thank you for taking time to meet with me today.
Most skin cancers can be cured if they’re caught early enough.
SPEAKER: Remind participants to make sure that they or someone else checks “hard-to-get-at” places such as the back, back of your neck and ears and backs of your legs.   
We are advocating for change. But by taking care of yourself and by sharing information about the health risks associated with indoor tanning, with friends, you family and within your community you can contribute to making a change now. Legislation can take a long time.
(End of Notes)

21. Testicular Cancer starts in cells of testicles
most common in men between ages 15-49
can be treated successfully
Cancers are named after the part of the body where they start. For example, cancer that starts in the bladder but spreads to the lung is called bladder cancer with lung metastases. So it make sense that testicular cancer starts in cells of testicles.
The testicles are part of a man's reproductive system. They are the two egg-shaped organs found in the sac of loose skin (scrotum) at the base of the penis. The testicles are held in the scrotum by the spermatic cord. The spermatic cord contains the ductus deferens, some lymph nodes, veins and nerves. Testicles make the male sex hormone testosterone and sperm. Sperm begins to form in “germ” cells inside the testicles. Most testicular cancers start in the germ cells and are called germ cell tumours. There are two main types of germ cell tumours – seminomas and non-seminomas. Each type grows differently and is treated differently.
Normally we would say that cancer is a disease of the aged.. But testicular cancers one tends to strike when men are younger, between
Speaker Ask the question: Our slide says that testicular cancer can be treated successfully… Is this true?
Yes! It has one of the best 5 yr relative survival rates (95%) (Canadian Cancer Encyclopedia, 2011)
This means that, on average, men diagnosed with testicular cancer are 95% as likely to live 5 years (or more) after diagnosis as men in the general population who do not have cancer.
Speaker: Ask the question…What do Tour de France Cyclist Lance Armstrong, Figure Skater Scotty Hamilton and Canadian actor and comedian Tom Green all have in common???
They all developed and survived testicular cancer.
[end of notes]

22. Risk Factors delayed descent of the testicles (if not corrected early)
Testicular Cancer
Risk Factors
delayed descent of the testicles (if not corrected early)
age, between 15 and 49
family or personal history of testicular cancer
abnormal development of the testicle
There is no single cause of testicular cancer but some factors seem to increase the risk of developing it:
Test time. What is a risk factor? (A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of developing cancer….
The risk factors for testicular cancer include:
 delayed descent of the testicles (if not corrected early) (Sometimes the testicles do not descend into the scrotum in the first year of life, as they should, if this not corrected, there is an increased risk of testicular cancer.
age – particularly between 15 and 49
family or personal history of testicular cancer (when we talk about family history, we are usually talking about first degree relative… i.e. brother, father,)
abnormal development of the testicle
Some men develop testicular cancer without any of these risk factors. It’s important to note that these are all risk factors you can’t control.
Speaker Ask the question: What can you do to do about testicular cancer?
[end of notes]

23. Know what’s normal for you
Testicular Cancer
Know what’s normal for you
See your doctor if you have:
a lump on the testicle
a painful testicle
a feeling of heaviness or dragging in the lower abdomen or scrotum
a dull ache in the lower abdomen and groin
It is really important to know what is normal for you.
All men, from the time they are 15 years old, should learn how to check their testicles. This is a simple, pain-free way to check what is normal for a man’s testicles so that any changes will be noticed. This should be done regularly. Early detection of testicular cancer can make a difference in the treatment of the disease.
How to check your testicles
The best time to check your testicles is just after you’ve had a bath or shower, when the muscles in the scrotum are relaxed, making it easier for you to feel any lumps, growths or tenderness. Men should see their doctor if they notice:
a lump on the testicle (one of the most common
a painful testicle
a feeling of heaviness or dragging in the lower abdomen or scrotum
a dull ache in the lower abdomen and groin
Where can you go to find out more information about testicular cancer?
and Cancer Information Service.
[end of notes]

24. Fight back through screening and early detection!
So we are nearing the end of our time together… I just want to leave with a collection of things that you can do to fight back against the cancers that affect men through screening and early detection.
In order to make it easy for you to follow early detection & screening guidelines, we have gathered them all onto one slide!
Look to see which ones fit for you. Notice that the first one applies to men at every age.
One more question: Who can you go to for reliable information about cancer? Next slide
[End of Notes]
Age group
Guideline
All ages
Know your body
Report any changes to your doctor
Talk to your Dr. about your prostate risk
15-49 yrs
Check your testicles
50-69 yrs
FOBT (2 years) (average risk)
If over 70 yrs
Talk to your doctor about screening

25. For the most up-to-date information:
Final slide
To get the most up-to-date information on cancer or to learn more about cancer prevention, visit our website at
Or you can call Cancer Information Service at It’s free, and available in over 120 different languages.
Finally, if you would like to get involved with the Canadian Cancer Society as a volunteer, you can do so by either visiting our website or by calling the Cancer Information Service line.
Thank you again for inviting me here today to talk to you about women’s health]. It is because of people like you, and our volunteers and donors that the Canadian Cancer Society is able to help thousands of people each year. Together we will fight back against cancer.
(Speaker: Questions can be entertained at this time or participants can be referred to speak to you at the display table.) 
Please feel free to take home the materials on the display table. I’ll be here for a while longer if anyone has any additional questions.
[End of notes]
visit
call the Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Information Service at
Thank you!
Presentation prepared by:
Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, Public Affairs, Prevention
May 2011