For decades, cancer was widely perceived as a disease that primarily affected older adults. Today, that reality is changing. Across India, oncologists are witnessing a growing number of younger men being diagnosed with cancers that were once considered uncommon before middle age. While advances in diagnostics have improved early detection, changing lifestyles, rising obesity, chronic stress, tobacco use, poor dietary habits, and sedentary living are also reshaping the country’s cancer landscape.
In this exclusive conversation with BestForHim, Dr. Kamran A. Khan, Senior Surgical Oncologist at SSO Cancer Hospital, draws on more than 35 years of experience to explain why men’s approach to health needs an urgent reset. Specialising in gastrointestinal oncology, uro-oncology and male cancer surgery, robotic and laparoscopic onco-surgery, head and neck oncology, and complex cancer resection surgery, Dr. Khan has treated thousands of patients across a broad spectrum of cancers. He discusses the alarming rise of cancer among younger men, the misconceptions that delay diagnosis, the importance of routine screening, and how modern advances such as robotic surgery are transforming cancer care and recovery. Above all, he shares a powerful message: true strength lies not in ignoring symptoms, but in taking charge of your health before a preventable problem becomes a life-threatening disease.
Q1. In your 35 years of experience, how has the cancer profile of Indian men changed? Are you seeing it in younger patients now?
One of the most significant changes I have witnessed is that cancer is no longer considered only a disease of elderly. Although life expectancy is still on the rise, contributing to the total number of cancer cases, we are undoubtedly seeing some of these cancers diagnosed in a much younger population than earlier before.
A generation ago, most patients diagnosed with cancer were in their 60s and 70s. Today, in addition to seeing more patients in these age groups, it is becoming more common to see patients in their late 30s or 40s diagnosed with colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, oral cancer and aggressive prostate cancer. While many of the diagnoses are occurring earlier because of improved diagnostics, we can also point to changes in lifestyle as a contributing factor.
Urbanisation has resulted in more sedentary lifestyles, increased obesity, poor sleep quality, chronic stress, exposure to tobacco, increased alcohol consumption and consumption of highly processed foods. These lifestyle factors also contribute to an environment that leads to both chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, both of which are increasingly associated with the development of cancer.
The cancer profile for men in India is changing rapidly. However, unfortunately, the attitudes toward cancer have not changed as quickly. Many younger men still feel that they are unlikely to get cancer or that cancer only happens to other people. This is becoming an increasingly dangerous belief.
Q2. Are you seeing a rise in cancer cases among younger men? If so, what factors could be contributing to this trend?
Yes, there is a trend that is alarming. Not all types of cancers are getting common among younger men, but some are definitely starting to show earlier age groups as their target place of incidence.There are many reasons for increased cancer risk and incidence of early men. One of them is increased obesity; second, is lower amounts of physical activity; third, are poor nutrition habits; fourth, is lack of sleep (chronic); fifth, is environmental pollution; sixth, is tobacco use; seventh, is a larger incidence of metabolic diseases including diabetes. Younger professionals, who made these statistics, still work under high stress and have neglected preventive healthcare. Aside from this, greater awareness of cancer and access to better imaging has made it possible to detect more cancers than ever before.
Although with trend, early detection cannot be the only reason for increased cancer incidence. Genetics play a vital part as well. Today, we are able to identify more hereditary cancer syndromes, allowing identification of younger individuals at risk.
So, age alone should never be used to dismiss seeking medical attention. Persistent change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, blood in urine, abnormal lumps or prolonged fatigue are definitely worthy of medical attention
Q3. Over the years from your expertise what do you think men need to know about prostate and testicular cancers that they currently do not?
A lot of men believe that prostate cancer has obvious symptoms in early stages and that testicular cancer is so uncommon that it doesn’t deserve attention; both these beliefs are wrong.
Prostate cancer can often develop without showing symptoms. Some men will not experience symptoms even as their disease is slipping into the later stages of development. This is why as men get older (especially those with a family history of prostate cancer) it is important to discuss PSA testing and the need for risk assessment.
Testicular cancer is somewhat different in the way it tends to affect younger men (15 to 40 years of age); however, the good news is that it is one of the most curable cancers if caught early. Nonetheless, a large percentage of young men delay seeking help when they notice change or abnormality because they are embarrassed to discuss their testicular changes.
Men need to understand that being aware does not mean being anxious. Being aware of your body and being able to identify unusual lumps or swellings and have these evaluated in a timely manner is a responsible act, not a cowardly act.
The cancers that concern me the most are not the aggressively behaving cancers, but rather the cancers that the patient ignores until it is too late to treat effectively.
Q4. How much does societal pressure around appearing “strong” contribute to delayed diagnosis and treatment among men?
Throughout my professional career, I have realised that it plays a larger role in men’s health than we may realise. Men are conditioned from a young age to put up with pain, to not show weakness or to not share their feelings. Unfortunately, the body does not reward the mindset.
Many patients I see have had symptoms for several months : but delay seeking medical help right away due to being busy, feeling awkward about discussing the problem, or thinking the issue would resolve itself. When they come in for treatment, oftentimes their disease has progressed significantly.
Unfortunately strength is often misunderstood. Real strength is the ability to take responsibility for your health before a problem becomes a crisis, not to just ignore symptoms.
We have now created an environment where talking about fitness, finance, and career progression is normal. We need to also create an environment where talking about health screenings, mental health, sexual health, and cancer awareness is normal.
The men that have the most success surviving cancer are not necessarily the toughest men, but rather the men who noticed there was something wrong, found help early and were actively involved in the treatment process.
Q5. Which cancers are most common among Indian men today, and which one worries you the most in terms of how late it is usually caught?
Among men in India cancers of the oral cavity, lung, prostrate, colorectal region and stomach are the most significant. Tobacco-related cancers are major contributors to India’s national cancer burden.
With respect to the one cancer that concerns me the most regarding delayed diagnosis it would be prostate cancer. Many men do not recognize that urinary symptoms they may have may be signs of prostate problems and they will ignore these symptoms for ten plus years. Others may avoid getting tested for prostate cancer altogether because they have no symptoms.
However, I am equally concerned about oral cancers. India continues to carry one of the world’s highest burdens of oral cancer, largely driven by tobacco and areca nut consumption. These cancers are often visible and potentially detectable at an early stage, yet many patients still present late.
The tragedy is that delayed diagnosis is often not a medical failure it is an awareness failure. We already possess many of the tools needed to detect cancer earlier. The challenge is encouraging men to use them before symptoms become impossible to ignore.
Q6. What does a “cancer check-up” actually involve? Many men have no idea what to ask for when they walk into a clinic.
People often believe that there’s one magical test that can detect all cancers, but that isn’t the case.
To get a good idea of a person’s cancer risk, health professionals look at age, family history, lifestyle choices (including occupation), tobacco/alcohol use, and other medical conditions to determine what tests to perform.
Depending on their situation, some men may have oral exams, chest evaluations, blood tests, prostate-specific antigen tests (PSA) to check how healthy their prostate is, colon cancer testing, imaging studies/diagnostic imaging, or other types of specialised testing.
The goal is not to perform every possible test. The goal is to identify risk intelligently.
One thing I often tell my patients is that screening is not about finding an illness; it is to make sure there is no advanced disease already present when it starts.
The best question you could ask your doctor if you’re a man is this: “What kind of cancer do I need to proactively screen for, given my age and my risk factors?” That simple question could change your life dramatically.
Q7. Why is preventive healthcare still not a priority for many men despite growing awareness around lifestyle diseases?
Being aware of a problem does not always lead to taking action to resolve it.
While most men know smoking is not good for them, obesity puts them at a great risk, and exercising is good for their health, they will typically put off seeking out preventive healthcare because they are currently feeling healthy.
Men think about their goals first, such as being responsible fathers, advancing in their career, managing their money, and checking off their to-do list. Health is considered only when there are signs of health problems.
There is also a psychological factor. Many people fear discovering a problem more than having the problem itself. Understand, avoidance provides temporary comfort but often creates greater risk later.
Another factor in this is that preventive care doesn’t always seem urgent, because its benefits are invisible. One never see the heart attack that never happened or the cancer that was detected because of a routine doctor’s appointment.
Preventive healthcare should not be viewed as a result of an illness; preventive healthcare should be viewed as a way to continue to remain independent, productive and quality in life for a long time to come.
Q8. What are 5 practical lifestyle changes men can adopt today to lower their cancer risk and improve long-term health outcomes?
If I had to choose the top five interventions based on evidence, they would each be very simple to do.
One – Banning all forms of tobacco use. No other behaviour change can come close to reducing cancer risk as much as eliminating tobacco.
Two – Creating a healthy body weight through physical activity. As little as 30 to 45 minutes a day of physical activity can greatly improve metabolic function
Three – Improving the quality of your diet with an increased intake of fruits, vegetables, fibre, and whole foods; and decreasing the intake of processed foods, sugar, and excessive red meats.
Four – Focusing on sleep, as chronic sleep deprivation negatively affects your immune system, hormone levels, and general health in ways that we are only beginning to understand.
Five – Schedule and complete a preventive health examination well before any physical and/or mental condition develops.
People, by habit, will look to create complex solutions while ignoring the basics of a healthy lifestyle. A large percentage of long-term health outcomes can be achieved by consistently implementing basic lifestyle habits rather than making one-of-a-kind, more complicated decisions.
Q9. Why is preventive healthcare still not a priority for many men despite growing awareness around lifestyle diseases?
The root issue here is not that there is insufficient information but rather that there is not enough perceived risk.
Most males understand that there are instances where they could develop a serious illness; however, they believe that somebody else will get sick before them. This type of optimism bias often leads men to take action only after their illness has progressed and become very noticeable.
The other reason for this type of denial is that modern-day life encourages men to think in terms of short-term results. Men regularly put forth great effort into their career, automobile, home and financial project but usually fail to put forth the same amount of energy when it comes to maintaining their health.
A further complication is that preventive care typically does not yield any immediate reward. For example, a routine physical may not appear very much like a “big deal”, yet the advantages of early identification and treatment are not readily visible.
To make the most impact, we must experience a cultural shift. Preventive health care should be viewed as a demonstration of responsibility rather than as an expression of concern about one’s health. Preventive maintenance for machines will extend the life of a machine, and regular health evaluations will help to keep a body healthy long prior to the early symptoms of chronic diseases.
Changing this way of thinking can potentially save many lives.
Q10. What routine health screenings or preventive check-ups would you recommend for men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s?
As you move through the decades, the recommendations for preventive health care are going to change. During your thirties, establishing your baseline health is what should be emphasised. Evaluating and discussing blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, weight management, tobacco cessation and family history all become imperative.
When you get into your forties, things should probably start to become more structured. If you are at risk for developing any issues, men should start having discussions about colorectal cancer screening and prostate health assessment, imaging as needed, and monitoring of metabolic conditions more closely.
During your fifties, preventive screening will be increasingly more important. Evaluating prostate health, screening for colorectal cancer, assessing cardiovascular risk, and periodic health reviews should all become considered routine versus optional. Many times, family history can affect the recommendations you receive. If you have a family history of cancer syndrome or a strong cancer background in your family, you may require more frequent and intensive screenings.
The most important thing to remember is that prevention screening should occur individually. Age is important; however, risk (factors) can be considered even more so. A well thought out discussion with a health care provider (physician) often adds more value than simply doing the test.
Q11. How often should men undergo health screenings even if they feel completely healthy and have no obvious symptoms?
Feeling healthy is reassuring, but it should never be mistaken for proof of good health.
Most of the time it takes years for a person to show any signs or symptoms of a major chronic illness, including cancer. Because of this, once symptoms begin to appear an opportunity has usually been missed to have either prevented the disease or had an early intervention. For most men, having an annual checkup is a logical way to start maintaining their health.
This does not mean all men will need to have extensive lab work done every year, but men should be looked at in terms of looking at risk factors, taking family medical and health histories into account, checking their vital health marker (blood pressure, weight) and updating their recommended screening tests according to their age and not their lifestyle.
However, some men may require more frequent checks, including smokers, and those who are obese, have diabetes, have a hereditary syndrome associated with cancer or have a strong family history of cancer.
Screening is not meant to create stress in a patient; rather, it is supposed to create awareness among men about what they can do to take care of themselves. Additionally, as a part of preventive medicine, screening is a positive example of identifying a potential health issue before any signs or symptoms of an illness are present. That is the true definition of preventive medicine!
Q12. SSO Cancer Hospital is known for robotic and laparoscopic oncosurgery. How does this advanced technology change the narrative for men who fear that cancer surgery means a permanent loss of function or vitality?
One of the biggest fears that men have about surgery to remove their cancer is not the procedure itself, but how their life will be after surgery is completed. They are concerned about pain, long term recovery, loss of independence, urinary function, sexual function, physical ability, and getting back to work.
Robotic and minimally invasive surgery have changed the discussion significantly regarding the operation itself and the associated recovery process. New technology has improved visualization, increased precision, and provided better access to the surgical site, allowing surgeons to operate with incredible accuracy especially in the pelvic region and prostate area where the anatomy is complicated to see and manipulate. For most patients, these advancements have resulted in smaller incisions, less blood loss, faster recovery time, lower levels of pain after surgery, and better outcomes with regard to preserving important structures during surgery.
Technology at the SSO Cancer Hospital is not considered as a replacement for the knowledge and skill that an experienced cancer surgeon has. Rather, it is a tool that enables an experienced cancer surgeon to perform more precise procedures with greater ability to accomplish both cancer control and a good quality of life. It is very important to survive cancer; it is equally important to have a good quality of life after having survived cancer.
Q13. Outside the clinic, what would make the biggest difference in reducing male cancer deaths in India at a population level?
If I had to choose one intervention, it would be earlier engagement with healthcare. Most cancer deaths are not caused by lack of treatment options. They are caused by late presentation.
We must normalsie routine screening, symptom awareness, tobacco cessation, and routine medical evaluation. Campaigns through neighbourhood and community health services for cancer awareness must go beyond just awareness, it should be promoting action and healthy behaviours.
Similarly, we need to educate and inform men about their health and how to recognise warning symptoms/diseases: e.g. chronic oral ulcers, haematuria (blood in urine), unexplained weight loss or change in bowel movements, or abnormal masses. Another key focus is to work towards tobacco cessation for men; there is no other public health intervention that would have a greater potential for reducing the burden of cancer than tobacco cessation.
The future of cancer prevention will not be determined by what occurs in healthcare systems. It will be determined by what occurs in the family home, place of work, elementary and secondary schools, and communities where healthy behaviours are established long before disease occurs.
Q14. BestForHim focuses on helping men make better decisions about their health and well-being. What does “being healthy” truly mean for men today, beyond just being physically fit?
Historically, men have thought about their health in terms of physical strength, stamina, or athletic ability. Today, we have a broader understanding of what it means to be healthy.
A man who is truly healthy has the ability to run fast or lift heavy; he has good physical health; he has emotional resilience; he has community; he has mental health; and he is aware of preventative care.
In addition, a healthy man sleeps enough, effectively manages stress, maintains metabolic health, gets help for his problems, and knows that vulnerability does not equal weakness.
A healthy man is also responsible for his own preventative healthcare and is making a solid decision by scheduling screenings, finding out about symptoms early, and prioritizing long-term health.
The modern view of health goes beyond looking strong to being capable, independent, productive, and there for the people he loves.
This is what most men desire: not just a longer life but a better-quality life.
Q15. If there is one message you would like every man reading this interview to remember about preventive healthcare and early detection, what would it be?
Don’t wait for your body to give you a reason to pay attention. Accepting the assumption that not having any symptoms means you do not have a disease is one of the most dangerous assumptions made in health care.
Many cancers grow without symptoms until they are significantly advanced and the body has already taken control of them. Preventive health care should not be used as a source of fear, but rather as an opportunity to give you multiple options in case a sickness occurs.
When most cancers are found early, the treatment is usually less complex and quicker, the costs are much lower, and the results are significantly better. Intervening early is the best way to provide patients with the broadest range of options.
I remind my patients that their health is one of the few investments that can deliver significant long-term gains as a result of small efforts made on a daily basis. If you can take only one thing from this article, let it be to develop routine health checks instead of waiting for a response.
The strongest thing a man can do is not ignore a problem. It is to prevent one from becoming a crisis.
As Dr. Kamran A. Khan reminds us throughout this conversation, the future of men’s health lies not only in better treatments but in better habits. Cancer is no longer a disease that affects only the elderly, and waiting for symptoms can often mean missing the opportunity for early intervention. Regular health screenings, healthier lifestyle choices, and the courage to seek medical advice without delay can dramatically improve outcomes. Ultimately, preventive healthcare is an investment in a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life. For every man, the strongest decision is not to ignore a warning sign—but to act before it becomes a crisis.
