Spotlight on men’s health with three common conditions

For Men’s Health Week, the Fire Fighters Charity shone a spotlight on men’s health with three of the more common health conditions that affect men.

From the archive: Mountain Rescue Magazine issue 73, Summer 2020. From the Fire Fighters’ Charity.

Spotlight on men's health
The article as it appeared in Mountain Rescue Magazine issue 73, July 2020.

Know your prostate

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system and is located just below the bladder. It is roughly the size of a walnut and responsible for helping produce the fluid found in semen. The prostate gland surrounds the tube known as the urethra, which passes urine from the bladder to the outside of the body, so any prostate disease or growth (benign or malignant) is likely to cause problems with urination.

Around 47,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Approximately 11,000 will die of the disease. However, as men age many will develop problems in relation to their prostate that aren’t indicative of cancer.

Indeed, many of the symptoms of non-cancerous conditions can be like those of prostate cancer, so don’t panic if any of the following rings true for you. Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:

  • Slow or weak flow of urine or difficulty starting to urinate
  • Urinating more frequently
  • Pain or burning sensation when urinating or unexplained urinary infection
  • Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, impotence or pain during ejaculation
  • Constipation and altered bowel habit
  • Blood in urine or semen
  • Pain in the back.

These can also be caused by non-cancerous conditions, but if you’re concerned, speak to your GP. The good news is that prostate cancer is a very slow-growing cancer and if caught early can be cured.

Prostate cancer can develop without noticeable symptoms

Prostate cancer can develop without you noticing symptoms and there is currently no national screening programme in the UK. Diagnosis usually begins with a simple blood test to measure your levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), a protein uniquely secreted by the prostate. These tests aren’t definitive, so doctors usually take several over time and follow up with MRI scans and biopsies.

Your risk of developing prostate cancer increases with your age, with most men diagnosed in their sixties. It can also affect younger men, although less frequently. Other conditions increase the risk, including race or ethnicity (black men have a higher risk), family history and diet (too much dairy, processed food or red meat can increase risk).

You may be offered a PSA test at your free NHS health checks — at age 40 and every five years thereafter — and deciding to do so is an entirely personal choice. Some men may wish to know their baseline PSA levels, others may not, but the option is there for you.

As a rule, as with any form of cancer, preventative steps such as a healthy, balanced, Mediterranean diet and regular exercise are worth considering. Research shows that some foods such as tomatoes, pomegranate and green tea may also promote a healthy prostate.

For more information, visit Prostate Cancer UK or Orchid – Fighting Male Cancer

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer occurs when normal, healthy cells, which are carefully regulated by the body, begin to reproduce uncontrollably in the testicles. It affects over 2,200 men every year and is more prevalent in young men aged 15-45, although it can affect men at any age. This might not sound high, but this is far too many young men being affected by something entirely preventable if found early enough.

The good news is that, if found early, there is nearly a 100% chance of cure (98% of men will still be alive ten years after treatment). That’s why it’s so important not to delay seeing your GP if you have symptoms. It’s important to check both your testicles in turn, looking out for any change in size or texture. Feel carefully for lumps, hardening, swelling or discomfort, a heaviness, dull ache or dragging sensation in the lower part of the abdomen, scrotum or groin, pain, and breast tenderness or back pain.

Again, these symptoms don’t necessarily mean a cancer diagnosis as they’re often associated with other conditions. Check regularly and report noticeable changes to your GP. There’s definitely no need to be embarrassed, or let pride get in the way of seeking help. They’ve seen it all before.

Movember has produced a great guide for checking your testes or for more information visit the Odd Balls Foundation or Orchid – Fighting Male Cancer.

Breast cancer in men

We think of breast cancer as being a disease that only affects women, but this simply isn’t true. So if you’re asking can men get breast cancer? The short answer is yes. Men can and do get breast cancer.

And while cases of breast cancer are fewer in men than woman, it’s important to raise awareness of male breast cancer, as around 390 men are diagnosed with the disease each year in the UK alone.

Breast cancer begins at a cellular level when an individual cell mutates to form an abnormality. These cells then begin to divide and multiply, creating a cluster of abnormal cellular formations known as a tumour. Often this is what is felt when someone goes to their GP saying they’ve found a lump. It is important to note that not all lumps mean cancer and symptoms can be the same in breast cysts etc.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, but its causes are numerous and diverse. Research has found that inherited genes can play a role in developing it. While for women, around 3% of breast cancer cases are caused by faulty genes, in men, gene risk accounts for between 10% and 20% of cases. Age naturally increases an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer too. For men this is the single biggest factor with most cases being reported in males between the age of 60 and 70 years.

Obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, alcohol and stress all have a negative effect on holistic health, so it goes without saying that these lifestyle choices also increase both men and women’s chances of developing breast cancer.

The most common symptom is a lump in the breast area

The most common symptom for both men and women with breast cancer is a lump in the breast area. This is nearly always painless. Other similar symptoms can include:

  • Oozing from the nipple (a discharge) that may be blood stained
  • Swelling of the breast
  • Nipple that is pulled into the breast (called nipple retraction)
  • Lump or swelling in either of your armpits
  • Rash on or around the nipple
  • Sore (ulcer) in the skin of the breast.

The best thing you can do is to get to know your body. Figure out what is normal for you and take time to check yourself. If you notice signs of any of the above, seek medical advice as soon as possible. As with all cancers, the earlier it is found the easier it is to treat.

Treatment depends on numerous factors. The consultant will perform scans, bloods and biopsies to gain an overall view and gauge the type, size and cellular makeup, and whether the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues.

For more information, check out breastcancernow.org, macmillan.org.uk and cancerresearchuk.org.