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[Ryan Martis]

No. 12 - Blood Where It Shouldn't Be (Blood in Sputum, Stool or Urine)

"Anytime you see blood coming from a body part where you've never seen it before, see a doctor," Lichtenfeld says. "If you start coughing or spitting up blood, have blood in the bowel, or blood in the urine, it's time for a doctor visit."

Dr. Mishori says it's a mistake to assume blood in the stool is simply from a hemorrhoid. "It could be colon cancer," he says.

Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms. If there is blood in the stool, the doctor may also order tests such as a colonoscopy, which is an examination of the colon using a long flexible tube with a camera on one end. The purpose of a colonoscopy is to identify any signs of cancer or precancer or to identify what else might be causing the bleeding. If there is blood in the urine, other tests such as bladder cystoscopy (tube used to examine urinary tissue) and tissue biopsy may be done. Blood in the sputum may occur from many non-cancerous causes; however, several types of cancers (for example, lung, esophageal, oral) may also produce bloody sputum. Your doctor can help diagnose the underlying cause of bloody sputum with tests and in consultation with specialists.

[Ryan Martis]

No. 13 - Mouth Changes (Chronic Oral Lesions That Do Not Heal)

If you smoke or chew tobacco, you need to be especially alert for any white patches inside your mouth or white spots on your tongue. Those changes may indicate leukoplakia, a precancerous area that can occur with ongoing irritation. The condition can progress to oral cancer.

You should report the changes to your doctor or dentist. The dentist or doctor will take a careful history, examine the changes, and then decide what other tests, such as a tissue biopsy, might be needed.

[Ryan Martis]

No. 14 - Urinary Problems (Frequent Urge to Urinate, Slow Urine Stream, Incomplete Feeling of Emptying the Bladder)

As men age, urinary problems become more frequent, such as the urge to urinate more often, a sense of urgency, and a feeling of not completely emptying the bladder. Most men will develop these problems as they get older. However, if you notice any of these symptoms and they concern you because they begin to interfere with normal activities, you should seek medical attention, especially if symptoms become worse.

Your doctor will do a digital rectal exam, which will tell him whether the prostate gland is enlarged. The gland often enlarges as a man ages. It's typically caused by a noncancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Your doctor may also order a blood test to check the level of prostate-specific antigen or PSA. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland, and the test is used to help determine the possibility of prostate cancer. If the doctor notices abnormalities in the prostate or if the PSA is higher than it should be, your doctor may refer you to an urologist and may suggest a biopsy of the prostate gland be done.

[Ryan Martis]

No. 15 - Indigestion (Frequent or Almost Constant Discomfort)

A lot of guys, especially as they get older, think "heart attack" when they get bad indigestion, even if they've just eaten and drunk their way through a marathon Super Bowl viewing. But persistent indigestion could point to cancer of the esophagus, throat, or stomach and should be reported to your doctor. Conversely, if the pain is intense and causes a person to "grip their chest," most doctors consider this as a sign of a cardiac event and consider this situation to be a medical emergency.

Your doctor will take a careful history and ask questions about the indigestion episodes. Based on the history and your answers to the questions, the doctor will decide what tests are needed and if you should be referred to a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, or an ENT specialist.