A number of cancers exclusively affect men by targeting areas of the male reproductive system, but fortunately many of these diseases can be identified at an earlier stage, which improves men's chances of successful treatment.

Testicular cancer is perhaps the best known male-related cancer, especially following its diagnosis in high profile celebrities such as cyclist Lance Armstrong, which brought greater media attention to the disease. Cancer may develop in one or both of the testes, and most commonly affects white men aged between 25 and 35, particularly if abnormalities are present such as un-descended testes.

There are three specific types of testicular cancer currently known - seminomas, nonseminomas and stromal cell tumours. Although the precise causes of testicular cancer are not yet known, cancerous lumps can be easy to identify through self-examination, and 95 per cent of cases are treatable when caught at an early stage.

One type of cancer that generally affects older men is prostate cancer, particularly for men older than 55 years. For this reason, prostate screenings typically become part of standard medical check-ups around the age of 50, in addition to colonoscopies to detect colorectal cancer - another common cancer that affects men (as well as women). An enlarged prostate gland can be indicative of cancer being present, and may become painful or lead to problems urinating if left untreated.

As one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the developed world, it's recommended that all men over 50 learn the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer to catch this malignant disease as early as possible - these include pain or a burning sensation when urinating or blood being present in urine. You can also reduce your risk of prostate cancer by consuming less fatty foods as you get older, and you may want to check whether there is a history of the cancer in your family as well.

Another form of male-specific cancer is penile cancer, which has significantly different rates of incidence in various parts of the world - accounting for 20 to 30 per cent of cancers for men living in Asia, Africa and South America, but as low as 0.5 per cent in the world's most developed countries, figures that are believed to be due to differing standards of hygiene. There are various types of cancers that affect the tissues of the penis, the most common (95 per cent) being epidermoid carnicomas on the glans and foreskin of uncircumcised males.

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