Life, after diagnosis The changing face of cancer survivorshipCoping with cancer is rarely easy for anyone, but men tend to fare worse — emotionally and physically — than women. There are more than 18.6 million cancer survivors in the U.S., and their ranks are growing. This can come at the ultimate cost: Research shows men under 40 are at highest risk of suicide among cancer survivors . After many months, Maxwell’s wife and daughters persuaded him to join cancer support groups, where he met mostly women, and notably few men. NOGUCHI: Hu says research shows men under 40 are at highest risk of suicide among cancer survivors.