Men more likely to die of cancer due to ‘stiff upper lip’

The study also found that men are also far more likely to develop the disease in the first place and 70 per cent are more likely to die from cancers that affect both males and the females,excluding breast cancer and prostate cancer.

However,according to the researchers,there is “no known biological reason” why men should be more likely to develop cancer and die.

“Men have a reputation for having a ‘stiff upper lip’ and not being as health-conscious as women.

“What we see from this report could be a reflection of this attitude,meaning men are less likely to make lifestyle changes that could reduce their risk of the disease and less likely to go to their doctor with cancer symptoms.

“Late diagnosis makes most forms of the disease harder to treat,” ‘The Daily Telegraph’ quoted Professor David Forman of National Cancer Intelligence Network,which conducted the study,as saying.

In fact,the researchers have based their findings on an analysis of data of the number of cancer deaths in Britain in 2007 and the number of new cases of cancer in 2006.

The cancers that were not specific to either sex were grouped together and the researchers then looked at the ratio of men to women in each category.

In 2006,293,601 people were diagnosed with cancer,including 147,223 new cancers diagnosed in men. In 2007,there were 155,484 deaths from cancer,including the death of 80,907 men in Britain.

“The evidence shows that men are generally not aware that,as well as smoking,carrying excess weight around the waist,having a high alcohol intake and a poor diet and their family history all contribute to their increased risk of developing and dying prematurely from cancer.

“Many of these deaths could be avoided by changes in lifestyle and earlier diagnosis,” Prof Alan White of the Leeds Metropolitan University was quoted as saying.