Men’s reproductive cancers include prostate cancer, testicular cancer and penile cancer. Cancer is the abnormal growth of malignant cells.

Prostate cancer is by far the most common cancer of the male reproductive system. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Whereas prostate cancer usually affects men in middle and older age, testicular cancer is more likely to strike young men. Both types of cancer can be detected early and have a high survival rate. Penile cancer is rare in developed nations and consists almost entirely of skin cancer. It, too, is curable when detected and treated early.

The cause of male reproductive cancers is unknown, but there are many risk factors. These include family history, genetic mutations, viral infections, fatty diet and smoking.

Symptoms may be absent in men’s reproductive cancers, or they can be caused by or mistakenly attributed to other conditions. Men should consult a physician for problems with urination, a lump in the testicles, warts on the penis and other genital irregularities. 

Physicians have many ways of diagnosing men’s reproductive cancers, including physical examination, blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound and biopsy.

Possible treatments for these cancers include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Prevention of male reproductive cancers may be possible by getting regular medical checkups and avoiding risk factors such as exposure to viral infections.