A worrying 14 per cent of men say they would put off reporting worrying symptoms, such as a lump or suspicious mole

Men are ignoring cancer symptoms because they are too embarrassed and don't want to make a fuss, new research has revealed.

And those who work in traditionally 'masculine' industries - such as building and construction - are particularly poor at starting conversations about their health.

Of 1,000 men questioned, more than a third admitted having being worried about their health to such an extent that they have been 'kept awake at night'.

Despite this, 14 per cent said they would put off reporting worrying symptoms, such as a lump or suspicious mole.

And more than 10 per cent who have noticed changes to their health in the last year have put off seeing a doctor because they are frightened the symptoms might be a sign of something serious.

Another survey of over 600 men working in the building industry found 43 would not want to talk about symptoms such as a lump, a suspicious mole, or pain, in case it was thought they were 'making a fuss'.

Almost a quarter admitted they would feel discouraged from seeking help because they were too embarrassed.

This is despite research showing that men are 60 per cent more likely to get cancer and 70 per cent more likely to die from the disease than women.

Senior Macmillan information nurse, John Newlands, said: 'It's really important that both men and women are aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and that they report any changes to their health as early as possible.

'We often find that men don't know what they should look out for, or that they feel embarrassed or unsure when talking about these changes.'

The polls for Macmillan Cancer Support also found that men who work iOf 985 men questioned in one YouGov poll,

Macmillan has launched a new campaign, Don't Let Cancer Ruin Your Foundations, with building and construction firms including Travis Perkins, Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery, Kier Group, Costain, Selco Builders Warehouse and Wolseley UK.

Former electrical engineer, Steve Stasos, 54, from Norfolk, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2008, said: 'I first noticed something wasn't right when I was unable to urinate during the night but it never crossed my mind that it could be cancer. Eventually I was diagnosed and it felt like the world was closing in on me.

Almost a quarter admitted they would feel discouraged from seeking help because they were too embarrassed (file image posed by models)

'As I went through treatment, I noticed a lot of the guys going through it all at the same time as me had clammed up and weren't talking about their diagnoses.

'Very quickly, it became clear we were all desperate to talk about what we were going through but had just been too scared to voice our thoughts for fear of embarrassment.

'Despite being afraid of talking to my friends, family and colleagues about my diagnosis, I did open up and it was a real relief once I did. They may not have fully understood what I was going through, but I knew they were there for me and there was nothing to be ashamed of.