They’re sprouting up everywhere,
moustaches on men’s faces, around the world!
During the month of November, “Movember” uses the power of the Mo (slang
for moustache). Movember helps raise
money and awareness to help combat men’s health issues: prostate and testicular
cancer and mental health challenges. Getting
the right screening test at the right time is one of the most important things
a man can do for his health. Screenings
find diseases early, before you have symptoms, when they’re easier to
treat. The tests you need are based on
your age and your risk factors.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most
common cancer found in American men (after skin cancer). It tends to be a slow-growing cancer, but
there are also aggressive, fast-growing types of prostate cancer. Screening tests can find the disease early,
sometimes even before symptoms develop, when the treatments can be more
effective.
Tests for Prostate
Cancer
Screenings for healthy men may
include a digital rectal exam (DRE) and possibly a prostate specific antigen
(PSA) blood test. Discussions should
begin at:
§
50 for average-risk men.
§
45 for men at high risk. This includes
African-Americans.
§
40 for men with a strong family history of prostate
cancer.
Testicular Cancer
This uncommon cancer develops in
a man’s testicles, the reproductive glands that produce sperm. Most cases occur between ages 20 and 54. The American Cancer Society recommends that
all men have a testicular exam when they see a doctor for a routine physical
(even if you feel fine, it is still important to see your health care provider
to check for potential problems). Men at
higher risk (a family history or an undescended testicle) should talk with a
doctor about additional screening. Some
doctors advise regular self-exams, gently feeling for hard lumps, smooth bumps,
or changes in size or shape of the testes.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second
most common cause of death from cancer.
Men have a slightly higher risk of developing it than women. The majority of colon cancers slowly develop
from colon polyps: growths on the inner surface of the colon. After cancer develops it can invade or spread
to other parts of the body. The way to
prevent colon cancer is to find and remove colon polyps before they turn
cancerous.
Tests for Colon Cancer
Screening begins at age 50 in
average-risk adults. A colonoscopy is a
common test for detecting polyps and colorectal cancer. A doctor views the entire colon using a flexible
tube and a camera. Polyps can be removed
at the time of the test. A similar
alternative is a flexible sigmoidoscopy that examines only the lower part of
the colon. Some patients opt for a
virtual colonoscopy – a CT scan – or double contrast barium enema – a special
X-ray – although if polyps are detected, an actual colonoscopy is needed to
remove them.
Skin Cancer
The most dangerous form of skin
cancer is melanoma. It begins in
specialized cells called melanocytes that produce skin color. Older men are twice as likely to develop
melanoma as women of the same age. Men
are also 2-3 times more likely to get non-melanoma basal cell and squamous cell
skin cancers than women are. Your risk
increases as lifetime exposure to sun and/or tanning accumulates; sunburns
accelerate risk.
Screening for Skin Cancer
The American Cancer Society and
the American Academy of Dermatology recommend regular skin self-exams to check
for any changes in marks on your skin including shape, color, and size. A skin exam by a dermatologist or other
health professional should be part of a routine cancer check-up. Treatments for skin cancer are more effective
and less disfiguring when it’s found early.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Your risk for high blood pressure
increases with age. It’s also related to
your weight and lifestyle. High blood
pressure can lead to severe complications without any prior symptoms, including
an aneurysm – dangerous ballooning of an artery. But it can be treated. When it is, you may reduce your risk for
heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
The bottom line: Know your blood
pressure.
Screening for High Blood Pressure
Blood pressure readings are two
numbers. The first (systolic) is the
pressure in your arteries when the heart beats.
The second (diastolic) is the pressure between beats. Normal blood pressure is less than
120/80. High blood pressure is 140/90 or
higher, and in between those two is prehypertension. How often blood pressure should be checked
depends on how high it is and what other risk factors you have.
Cholesterol Levels
A high level of LDL cholesterol
in the blood causes sticky plaque to build up in the walls of your
arteries. This increases your risk of
heart disease. Atherosclerosis – hardening
and narrowing of the arteries – can progress without symptoms for many
years. Over time it can lead to heart
attack and stroke. Lifestyle changes and
medications can reduce this “bad” cholesterol and lower your risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Determining Cholesterol Levels
The fasting blood lipid panel is
a blood test that tells you your levels of total cholesterol, LDL “bad”
cholesterol, HDL “good” cholesterol, and triglycerides (blood fat). The results tell you and your doctor a lot
about what you need to do to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and
diabetes. Men 20 years and older should
have a new panel done at least every five years. Starting at 35, men need regular cholesterol
testing.
Type 2 Diabetes
One-third of Americans with
diabetes don’t know they have it.
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart disease and stroke, kidney
disease, blindness from damage to the blood vessels of the retina, nerve
damage, and impotence. This doesn’t have
to happen. When found early, diabetes
can be controlled and complications can be avoided with diet, exercise, weight
loss, and medications.
Screening for Type 2 Diabetes
A fasting plasma glucose test is
most often used to screen for diabetes.
More and more doctors are turning to the A1C test, which
tells how well your body has controlled blood sugar over time. Healthy adults should have the test every
three years starting at age 45. If you
have a higher risk, including high cholesterol or blood pressure, you may start
testing earlier and more frequently.
The bottom line
Stop avoiding the doctor. Routine physicals are meant to screen for
diseases and assess the risk of future medical problems. Take action to reduce your risks. Start with healthy lifestyle choices – eat a
healthy diet, stay physically active and quit smoking. The impact of the changes now will be greater
than you’ll ever know.
Movember’s vision: “have an everlasting impact on the face of
men’s health.”
