Every November, Movember It's driving an urgent conversation: men's health needs more prevention, early detection, and science. While the movement has brought visibility to issues like prostate and testicular cancer and mental health, it still needs to integrate a crucial component: Genomics as a clinical tool to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in men.
The data points to a compelling reality: Men are diagnosed later than women, avoid medical consultations more frequently, and undergo fewer preventative tests. (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Movember reminds us that changing this story is not only necessary, but possible.
Cancer in men: an evidence-based overview
- Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men worldwide., with more than 1.4 million new cases in 2022 (IARC/WHO, GLOBOCAN 2022).
- It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men globally., second only to lung cancer (IARC/WHO, 2022).
- 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives (American Cancer Society, 2023).
- Lung cancer accounts for 21.51% of all cancer deaths in the male population (GLOBOCAN 2022).
- He Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor in men aged 15 to 35. (NIH – National Cancer Institute, 2024).
Beyond the incidence, there is a critical phenomenon: Many cancers in men do not present symptoms in early stages, especially prostate, liver and lung, which delays diagnosis and reduces therapeutic options (JAMA Oncology, 2023).
Genetics: the silent factor behind cancer in men
A significant percentage of male cancers have a hereditary component, This means that risk can be identified even before disease exists.
📌 Key facts about genetics and cancer in men:
- Between 5-10% of prostate cancers are hereditary (NCI, 2024).
- The carriers of Mutations in BRCA2 have up to an 8.6 times greater risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer compared with the general population (Castro et al., NEJM 2022).
- Men with mutations BRCA1/BRCA2 also have an increased risk of male breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and melanoma (Lancet Oncology, 2023).
- Variants in HOXB13 are associated with a significant increase in the risk of early-onset prostate cancer (Ewing et al., NEJM 2021).
- The incorporation of genomic testing in oncology impacts therapeutic decisions in more than 601% of patients with advanced cancer (ASCO – American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2023).
This changes the paradigm: detection depends not only on symptoms, but also on Understanding the patient's DNA and their actual risk.
What can genomic studies reveal in male oncology?
1. Hereditary risk (personalized prevention)
They allow you to answer questions such as:
- Can I develop cancer even if I feel healthy?
- Could cancer in my family affect my children?
- Do I need to start checkups earlier than the general population?
Clinically relevant genes include:
BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, CHEK2, PALB2, HOXB13, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, among others (NCCN Guidelines 2024).
2. Tumor genomic profiling (precision treatment)
Analyze the tumor's DNA to:
- Choosing targeted therapies
- Avoid treatments with a low probability of success
- Access to specific immunotherapy or clinical trials
- Personalizing therapeutic decisions based on biomarkers
The use of genomics Improves clinical outcomes in advanced cancers, especially in prostate, lung and metastatic solid tumors (JAMA Oncology, 2023).
Movember: It's no longer just about awareness, it's about clinical action
Men's health prevention has evolved. It is no longer limited to:
✔ Better habits
✔ Annual checkups
✔ Identify symptoms
Today includes:
✔ assess genetic risk before the disease
✔ personalize DNA-based treatments
✔ to make medical decisions with accurate molecular information
As the scientific literature points out:
Genomic medicine is not the future; it is an emerging standard of care in oncology. (ASCO, 2023; JCO Precision Oncology, 2024).
Who should consider a genomic study this Movember?
✅ Men with family members with cancer (prostate, breast, pancreas, colon, ovary)
✅ Early stage cancer diagnosis (<55 years)
✅ Aggressive or treatment-resistant tumors
✅ Families with multiple cases of cancer across generations
✅ Cancer patients seeking personalized treatment options
✅ Men who want to know their hereditary risk
Talking about cancer in men without talking about genetics is only telling part of the story.
This Movember, The message is clear:
- More early detection
- Fewer taboos
- More science
- And more genomics applied to real-world decisions
Because today, The smartest prevention is the one that reads the DNA before the symptoms.
If you or a family member has received a diagnosis or has suspicions, contact us and receive free advice.
References
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO). GLOBOCAN 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2023.
- Castro E., et al. NEJM, 2022; BRCA2 and aggressive prostate cancer risk.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI). Genetics of Prostate Cancer, 2024.
- Ewing et al. NEJM, 2021; HOXB13 and early-onset prostate cancer.
- DISGUST. Precision Medicine in Oncology Report, 2023.
- JAMA Oncology, 2023. Genomic profiling impact on advanced cancers.
- Cleveland Clinic, Men's Health Statistics, 2023.
- NCCN Guidelines: Genetic/Familial High-Risk Assessment, 2024.
- Lancet Oncology, 2023. BRCA variation in male cancer populations.
- JCO Precision Oncology, 2024. Implementation of genomics in clinical care.
