Cancer rates exploding among Victorian men but those with mates live longer

Rates of cancer among Victorian men are set to almost double in the next 15 years but some key lifestyle changes can reduce the risk — and here’s why having good mates can help.

Victorian men are being urged to quit smoking or vaping, reduce their alcohol intake and have a health check as research released on Tuesday warns cancer rates in men will almost double in the next 15 years.

Talking to a mate is also being encouraged after it was found men with mates live longer.

At the start of Men’s Health Week, the Victorian Cancer Registry revealed in its latest report, “Cancer in Victoria 2022”, that men face a 48 per cent increase in new cancer diagnoses by 2040 compared to a 38 per cent increase for Victorian women.

Cancer Council Victoria’s Head of Prevention and University of Melbourne Associate Professor Craig Sinclair put much of this down to lifestyle.

Men are 10 per cent more at risk of developing cancer than women.

“More men smoke and vape than women, and they are also less likely to speak to the doctor if they notice symptoms,” Prof Sinclair said.

“There are simple steps men can take to reduce cancer risk: keep up to date with bowel screening, if you notice any unusual changes to your body speak to a GP, reduce alcohol intake, increase physical activity and take steps to quit smoking or vaping.”

Alarmingly, most of the cancers men are diagnosed with are preventable so Cancer Council Victoria is urging men to take the time to talk to their mates about their health and encourage each other to keep up with screenings and health checks.

Prof Sinclair says it could save a life.

“Cancer Council Victoria wants to encourage men to be more proactive about their own health, and that of their mates, because prevention is always better than a cure,” he said.

The report found cancers are projected to increase because Victorians are also living longer and cancer is generally a disease of older people.

Men who have mates are said to live longer according to the Australian Men’s Health Forum. Picture: Ian Currie

The report found:

• The most common cancers for men are prostate, bowel, lung, melanoma and head and neck

• For every 100 females diagnosed with cancer, there are 120 males diagnosed

• Cancer kills nearly one in three Victorians

• It disproportionately affects Aboriginal Victorians

The news comes as Australian Men’s Health Forum found 50 men die every day in Australia from preventable causes.

A national peak forum, it also reported on the eve of Men’s Health Week that one in four men have no good mates and one in three Australian men experience loneliness. It found men with mates live longer lives.

Ambulance Victoria (AV) also joined the call for men to use this week as a reminder to have a health check.

Its executive director Operational Communications Anthony Carlyon said too many Australian men were dying too young.

Men with mates live longer but one in three Australian men experience loneliness. Picture: Daniel Pockett

“This week is about raising awareness of the full range of physical, mental and emotional conditions men can suffer from,” he said.

“We call on all men to book in for a health check, to make a plan for action to improve their health and wellbeing, and to tell their mates to do the same.”

AV said the number one killer of men in Australia was heart disease.

Its director of Patient Safety and Experience Andrew Keenan said one in five heart-related deaths were in men under the age of 65.

“Many heart attacks and strokes can be prevented through healthy behaviours like eating a heart healthy diet, being active, maintaining a healthy weight and being smoke free,” Mr Keenan said.