Between 2002 and 2004 the Centre of Applied Health Sciences of the University of Lüneburg carried out a research project concerning the cancer screening behaviour of men. Within a standardised survey all men aged 45 - 60 years of a local health insurance company were interviewed by a postal questionnaire about their cancer screening behaviour including their main reasons to engage or not to engage in the (insurance financed) cancer screening tests. 337 questionnaires could be analysed. As a theoretical framework, the “transtheoretical model” of Prochaska et al. was used to characterise the men according to their degree of readiness to engage in cancer screening tests. Results: 25 % of the men were regularly engaged in cancer screening tests. 40 % have been engaged at least once or were in the stage of “preparation” to do so in the near future. 35 % were resistant to undergo cancer screening tests. Anxiety concerning the check-up itself or the possibility to have a positive result were the main barriers for men not to engage in cancer screening. As an important factor to overcome such barriers, these men mentioned the need for better communication between doctors and patients. To improve cancer screening behaviour, this was considered more important than general information campaigns or organisational changes concerning the check-ups.