Experts asked: why is male cancer 'disproportionate'?

The MHF is teaming up with the National Cancer Equality Initiative to host an expert round-table on men and cancer.

Some 50 specialists from a variety of backgrounds will gather at the King's Fund in London on 29th January 2013 for an event co-chaired by MHF chair Professor Alan White of Leeds Metropolitan University and Joanne Rule of the NCEI at which the new report Excess Cancer Burden in Men will be launched.

More on the report itself (page live Tues 29 Jan 2013)

'Cancer is the biggest killer of men in England and Wales and men are disproportionately affected,' said Alan, who will open the proceedings. 'The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the excess burden of cancer in men and how it can most effectively be tackled.' Other speakers include:

Dr Noel Richardson, Director of the Centre for Men's Health, The Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland
Kathy Elliott, National Lead - prevention, early diagnosis and inequalities, National Cancer Action Team
David Phillips, Professor of Environmental Carcinogenesis, King's College London
Mr Peter Greenhouse, FRCOG, Consultant in Sexual Health, Bristol Sexual Health Centre and Weston Integrated Sexual Health Centre

ONS figures published in December 2012 from 2008-10 show that about 163,100 men and 159,800 women were newly diagnosed with cancer in each of those years (an incidence rate of 431 per 100,000 men and 375 per 100,000 women) and that about 81,800 men (mortality rates of 204 per 100,000 men and 149 per 100,000 women).