Men's Health - UK Male Cancer Awareness Week 2010

Men's health awareness has historically not been high on most agendas - pressures of work , family and all of the usual issues tend to crowd it out of our minds.

That is, until something major - like a heart attack, stroke or cancer makes it impossible to ignore.

While the rates of discovery and survival from breast and cervical cancers are increasing - thanks in no small measure to the publicity and awareness of the need for regular examinations. Men's cancer is still quite largely ignored and early signs missed making the outcome of any treatment less promising.

On a recent BBC interview, the famous Australian tennis-player and former Wimbledon champion, Pat Cash, told of his support for a charity for male cancer awareness - called "Orchid" and its cancer awareness week this week (11th to 17th April).

Pat told the interviewers on the BBC's "One Show" how he'd become aware of the issue while in Hospital in the UK with a bad knee he'd spoken to someone in th waiting room who it turned out had testicular cancer (Pat said it put his bad knee into perspective!) and of the staggering statistic that 1 man every hour in the UK dies from prostate cancer. Staggering in that, if caught early enough this cancer is normally easy to treat!

This article will look at some of the major cancers that affect mens health, self examination and then some cancer charity and further resources. I'm not a medical doctor - just someone with a "vested interest" and I hope you'll let me know of any errors or other useful resources you might have. Thanks.

Cancer of the testicles is commonest in the 15 to 48 age range but is still quite rare, accounting for between 1 to 2% of all cancers affecting men in the UK. The number is however increasing.

The good news is it's easy to check out your testicles. Orchid has a resource and guide called Know-Your-Balls-Check 'em Out.

Self Examination (courtesy of Orchid's "Check 'em Out")campaign:

1. Become familiar with the normal weight, texture and consistency of your testicles.
2. Examine yourself at least once a month during or after a warm bath or shower.
3. Roll each testicle between your thumb and forefinger to determine that the entire surface is free of lumps.
4. Become familiar with the feel of the epididymis (diagram - all numbers, 1-6 are different parts of this tube), which runs behind the testicle, so you do not mistake it for a new growth.
5. Report to your doctor immediately if any lump is detected.

Or, if you're Jonathan Ross - you can have them checked for you every day (see video on above link).

Cancer of the prostate (not 'Prostrate', as some people say) is more common in men aged 50 plus, with the incidence tending to show an increase with age.

The prostate is a small walnut-sized gland at the base of the bladder. A healthy prostate controls the flow of urine and also manufactures some of the thick, white fluid called semen that mixes with sperm and is then ejaculated during orgasm.

Symptoms

Any enlargement of the prostate (and there are many harmless reasons as men get older) can lead to difficulty in passing water; waking up in the middle of the night to urinate; sudden urge to urinate and slow or intermittent flow point to an enlargement of the prostate restricting the urethra, but do not necessarily point to cancer. A so-called "benign" enlargement of the prostate occurs in over 50% of men over the age of 60 in the UK.

Risk Factors

1. Family history: Recent research is showing a strong genetic link for prostate cancer. So, if a close relative has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the possibility of developing this cancer is increased. There is also a lesser family link between incidence of breast cancers and prostate cancers (and vice-versa).

2. Ethnicity: More common among Afro-Carribean's & Caucasians and least common amongst Asian heritage.

3.Diet: A link between high fat (especially saturated fat) diets and high-salt. So, yet again, a Western diet high in junk food seems to have a lot to answer for! Reducing red meat intake may also be a good thing. A recent study is suggesting that low levels of Vitamin D or the "Sunshine Vitamin" may also increase the risk of prostate and other cancers.

4. Excercise: The West's increasingly sedentary lifestyle also appears to have a part to play in increasing the risks of certain cancers

Examination & Diagnosis

So, if you are worried, have a family history of prostate cancer and /or are over 50 (possibly younger if there is a family history), you should talk to your GP, who may recommend an examination. In the UK, at present, there is no formal, screening programme for testing men for prostate cancer - unlike breast, or cervical cancer tests which the NHS monitors for women.

1. DRE: Unfortunately, examination of the prostate involves a visit to your GP and what is known as a "DRE" which stands for "Digital-Rectal Exam" . This description does not leave a lot to the imagination. It involves the GP inserting a lubed, gloved finger up the rectum (back-passage) and feeling (or "Palpating") the prostate for any enlargement.

2. PSA test: "Prostate Specific Antigen" test is done by blood sample and looking for higher levels than normal of protiens. It's a quick and simple procedure and can show up prostate cancer in its early stages, but unfortunately it isn't fool-proof.

Currently, a considerable amount of discussion is going on in the UK about the PSA test and whether it should be part of a routine screening programme. Presently, as I said, there is no NHS PSA testing programme. However any man is entitled to the test if they have had sufficient information on it and after consulting with their GP.

Thankfully, very rare - in the UK around 400 new cases are diagnosed every year. Like prostate cancer, it becomes more common over 60 years of age. Also, it is normally a slow-growing cancer meaning that once diagnosed, the outcome is generally good. There's good evidence that a link exists between the human papilloma virus "HPV" (a kind of wart) and this type of cancer, so that protected sex will help prevent it.

Early diagnosis is again the key, and like testicular cancer self-diagnosis is possible

Self-Diagnosis

The commonest sites for penile cancer are the head (or Glans) and under the foreskin. So a simple, regular check of these areas in particular for any irregularities such as:

• A painless lump or ulcer on the penis that doesn't heal
• Bleeding
• A red rash under the foreskin
• Flat growths of bluish brown colour
• Difficulty in drawing back the foreskin (phimosis)
• Unusual smelling discharge
• Unexplained change in colour of the skin
• Swollen lymph nodes in your groin area

If any of the above are found you must tell your GP - don't be embarrassed, they'll have seen it before and it could save your life!

For a news article on penile cancer that proves you shouldn't be embarrassed about going to your GP: Penile cancer a taboo - I'm just glad to be alive!

Formed in 1996 by former testicular cancer patient, Colin Osborne, (the guy Pat Cash spoke to in hospital) Orchid is the only UK registered cancer charity to focus entirely on the male-specific cancers: prostate, penile and testicular. Orchid offers support and information to people affected by male cancer through a dedicated medical research programme, education and awareness campaigns as well as support services.

You can also help Orchid by getting involved & raising or donating money during this week's Male Cancer Awareness week along with many other sponsorship events that they hold

Why the name? Well, "Orchid" comes from the Greek word for "testicle" which is "Orchis", named after the similarity between the shape of an Orchid's tubuor and a human testicle - those Greeks!