Men’s mental health during cancer and beyond

We know that men who have been diagnosed with cancer don’t fare as well as women:^2,3

Other risk factors include:

• they have around 4.5 years’ shorter life expectancy
• they have poorer health in the last 10 years of life
• they have a lower chance than women of being alive five years after diagnosis (~73 % of women compared to ~70 % of men).

And the differences don’t end there. More men than women are diagnosed with, and die from, cancer each year.⁴ We know that one in two men will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85.⁵

In general, men have a higher number of risk factors which, when addressed, can positively impact or prevent many cancers. Risk factors include:^2,6

• tobacco use
• alcohol consumption
• poor diet
• obesity
• low levels of physical activity
• high exposure to workplace chemicals

The good news is these numbers are decreasing, most likely because we have better cancer prevention and screening tools, and treatments for cancer have improved.

Commonly, men don’t go to the doctor and often avoid talking about changes in their body with others. One of the most important things we can do is start conversations between men about their health.

Men who have been diagnosed with cancer often feel a range of emotions — from sadness to anger, fear, and vulnerability — and some are at an increased risk of suicide.

In a study of nearly 15,000 men and women, cancer was associated with elevated anxiety levels in men, as well as a lifetime diagnosis of depression and other psychosocial impacts.⁷ A separate study in the United States found that among more than 8.5 million cancer patients, 13,311 died by suicide — 83% of whom were male.⁸

For men, although a cancer diagnosis happens, on average, later in life, older men may be confronted with a disruption in family and work roles, and the sense of purpose and meaning attached to those. In addition, for example, in prostate cancer there is a very high survival rate, but the side effects of the treatment and the cancer itself (including impotence, incontinence, and bowel problems) often mean that men feel there is a stigma attached to their diagnosis — making it difficult for them to talk about their experience and tackle some of the mental and emotional impacts of those side effects.⁹

Further research shows that one in five men with prostate cancer experience long-term anxiety and depression, but sadly, 72% of those men affected by prostate-related mental health issues do not seek help.¹⁰

Further work needs to be done to normalise the fact that being diagnosed with cancer is a major, life-changing event — regardless of gender or whether the prognosis is good. We need to explore ways to better empower male cancer patients and health professionals to recognise the less obvious signs of emotional distress and reach out for support. In addition, broader approaches beyond traditional talk therapies are needed — approaches that recognise men’s preference for more active forms of support.