Top 10 Cancers Among Men

The 10 most commonly diagnosed cancers among men in the United States in 2007* included cancers of the prostate, lung, colon and rectum, and bladder; melanomas of the skin; non-Hodgkin lymphoma; kidney cancer, mouth and throat cancer, leukemias, and pancreatic cancer. Overall, 758,587 men were told they had cancer and 292,853 men died from cancer in the U.S. in 2007.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is by far the most common cancer in men. In the U.S. in 2007,* 223,307 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 29,093 died from the disease. Prostate cancer is more common among African-American men than men of other racial and ethnic groups, but medical experts do not know why. In 2007, 226.0 out of 100,000 African-American men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, compared to 145.1 white men, 121.6 Hispanic† men, 78.2 Asian/Pacific Islander men, and 71.7 American Indian/Alaska Native men.

Since there is not enough medical evidence to decide if the potential benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the potential risks, CDC supports informed decision making.

Lung Cancer

More men die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. In the U.S. In 2007,* 109,643 men were diagnosed with lung cancer, and 88,329 men died from the disease. African-American men also are affected more by lung cancer than men of other races and ethnicities. In 2007, 95.1 out of 100,000 African-American men were diagnosed with lung cancer, compared to 79.9 white men, 49.3 American Indian/Alaska Native men, 47.1 Asian/Pacific Islander men, and 43.4 Hispanic† men.

About 90% of lung cancer deaths in men in the U.S. are due to smoking. The most important thing a man can do to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking, or to quit if he currently smokes.

Colorectal (Colon) Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men. It affects both men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in people aged 50 years or older. In 2007, 72,755 men were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 27,004 men died from the disease. In 2007,* 62.0 out of 100,000 African-American men were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, compared to 51.5 white men, 44.8 Hispanic† men, 39.7 Asian/Pacific Islander men, and 33.5 American Indian/Alaska Native men.

Deaths from colorectal cancer could be cut by as much as 60% if all people aged 50 years or older received regular screening tests. Speak with your doctor about colorectal cancer screening.

Data source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs.

*The most recent year for which statistics are available.

‡ Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population (19 age groups – Census P25–1130).
*2007 is the most recent year for which statistics are available.
†Hispanic origin is not mutually exclusive from other categories.
 

More Information

• Prostate Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Skin Cancer
• Hematologic (Blood) Cancers
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