Reducing the cancer burden in men!

A recent study projected a troubling global rise in cancer among men, from 10.3 million cases in 2022 to 19 million by 2050 – an 84 per cent increase. Deaths are expected to increase from 5.4 million to 10.5 million per year during the same period, with two demographic groups — men aged 65 and above, and men in low- and middle-income countries — facing the biggest increases. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, male cancer deaths could reach one million annually, driven by factors like limited health-care access and lack of screening services, which contribute to late-stage diagnoses.

These alarming figures highlight the need for stronger global cancer prevention, screening, and treatment efforts, especially in lower-income regions and among older men.

There is some momentum towards these objectives. US President Joe Biden has revitalised the Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to reduce the death rate from cancer in the United States by at least 50 per cent in 25 years and improve patients’ quality of life. Priorities include reducing lifestyle-related cancer risk, encouraging widespread cancer screenings, and expanding access to the latest innovations in diagnostics and treatment.



But while the Cancer Moonshot’s headline goals are domestic, the initiative also aims to help reduce cancer cases and improve outcomes elsewhere, especially in the lower- and middle-income countries where most cancer deaths occur. To this end, it seeks to improve cancer research and care, build health infrastructure, expand access to vaccines, support public-health campaigns, and foster collaborative efforts to strengthen local capacity for cancer prevention and treatment. Complementing this effort, the African Union’s Africa Health Strategy 2016-2030 aims to reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory infections.

The focus on prevention is fundamental, especially given limited resources. After all, the fight against cancer starts with individual choices, not least diet. To lower cancer risk, men should consume more fruits and vegetables, choose whole grains, reduce intake of red and processed meats, and limit sugar and processed foods.

The local availability of nutritious foods, particularly seasonal fruits and vegetables, helps to ensure that healthy eating is affordable and accessible. For example, teff — a tiny grain rich in iron, calcium, protein, and fibre — plays a crucial role in local diets in Ethiopia. Teff-based foods, such as injera, provide essential nutrients that support overall health, including reducing cancer risk, owing to their high fibre content and low glycaemic index (a measure of how quickly the food raises your blood sugar).

Meanwhile, men must reduce or eliminate harmful habits, such as smoking — tobacco accounts for 25 per cent of all cancer deaths globally — and excessive alcohol consumption. As it stands, approximately one in three men smokes, compared to one in 16 women, and 21 per cent of men report binge drinking compared to 13 per cent of women.

Effective messaging — for example, highlighting the long-term benefits of cancer prevention, including a longer, more active, pain-free life spent with loved ones — can encourage men to adopt healthier habits. Beyond public-health campaigns, governments and NGOs can help smokers quit by offering cessation programmes and educational resources. Community-wide actions, including the enforcement of regulations on advertising tobacco and alcohol products, are also needed.

Governments can support healthier lifestyles in other ways. For example, regular physical activity significantly reduces cancer risk, with the World Health Organisation recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly. This can be achieved by making walking a habit — a lifestyle change that governments can facilitate.

Cities with parks, walking trails, and bike lanes encourage physical activity. One study found that a community’s walkability and bikeability, and the availability of assets like parks close to home, are positively correlated with residents’ overall health. Governments in Africa — where urbanisation continues apace, but cities often lack parks and walkable spaces — should apply this lesson to urban planning.

Any cancer-prevention strategy would be incomplete without public vaccination campaigns. For example, men under the age of 45 would likely benefit from the HPV vaccine, which would protect them from penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer. There is also ongoing research into vaccines for other cancers: a promising trial involving a new mRNA-based lung-cancer vaccine is already under way.

When it comes to reducing the burden of cancer, prevention is better — and cheaper — than searching for a cure. For men, in particular, a holistic approach that combines personal responsibility with community and government action is vital. @Project Syndicate, 2024