Talking About Men's Health™

For many men around the country, September is significant for one reason and one reason only…the start of new seasons of college and professional football. Roster depth analysis, fantasy football drafts, and the office betting pool all begin to take place this month. But as important as keeping up with football stats may be for so many Americans, few put the same amount of time and effort into keeping up with their own health stats. September should also hold a place of importance in men’s calendars because it is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Every September, special attention is placed on one of the few disease exclusively affecting men. Prostate cancer has consistently ranked as the most common form of cancer within the United States over the last decade, beating out breast, lung, and colon cancers every year. And when paired with the male tendency to shy away from doctor’s appointments, this disease represents an issue of real concern in the world of men’s health. So in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the health of men everywhere, here are a few quick tips for staying competitive in the battle against prostate cancer.

Know Your Opponent

• Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 American men, with more than 2 million American men currently living with the condition.
• Men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women are to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Prostate cancer can be diagnosed in men as early as in their 30’s.
• The cancer is highly treatable in the early stages, with an almost perfect treatment rate, so early detection is very important.
• Delayed detection and treatment can be deadly, with almost 90 American men dying from the disease daily.

Checking Your Stats

• African American men are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than Caucasian men, making it that much more important for this group to schedule regular checkups with their doctor.
• Family history plays an important role in the development of the disease, with the risk doubling for men with fathers or brothers who have been diagnosed.
• It is recommended that men receive a “baseline” prostate screening, testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and a digital rectal exam at age 40.  They should discuss the possibility of yearly exams thereafter with their physicians.  Men with family history of prostate issues should discuss earlier screening initiation with their doctor.
• Know Your Number: Keep track of your PSA results for each screening, making sure to write the number down in a safe place each year.

Making a Winning Gameplan

• Maintain a healthy weight through good nutrition and an active lifestyle.
• Increase your ‘good’ fats, such as the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, and keep ‘bad’ fats like those found in margarine to a minimum.
• Vary your diet…try to include foods that have been seen to be beneficial, such as tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower, into your regular diet.
• Keep smoking, alcohol intake, and unnecessary stress to a minimum.

Deanna R. Fowler, MPH is the Community Health Promotion Coordinator for Women Against Prostate Cancer

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About Women Against Prostate Cancer:

www.womenagainstprostatecancer.org

Women Against Prostate Cancer (WAPC) is a national organization working to unite the voices and provide support for the millions of women affected by prostate cancer, and their families. WAPC advocates prostate cancer education, public awareness, screenings, legislation, and treatment options.

Everybody talks about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer? Why doesn’t everybody talk about the diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis?

Prostatitis is loosely and simplistically divided into acute and chronic classes. Acute prostatitis is very often young man’s bacterial infection; it is usually easily treated with antibiotics. Acute prostatitis can recur but does not necessarily transform into the chronic condition, with many men having a few episodes that then stop recurring.

Chronic prostatitis is characterized by frequent episodic or sustained pain potentially so severe that some victims become suicidal. The pain can affect a broad range of sites – perineum, penis, rectum, lower back, lower abdomen, legs – and it is usually associated with coexisting ailments: fatigue, inability to think clearly, and depression. Specific triggers may include such normal events as ejaculation, but are often hard to identify. Because of its debilitating effects, chronic prostatitis interferes with professional responsibilities and with personal relationships; it has been blamed for social isolation, divorce, and lack of employment.

Chronic prostatitis is often not a bacterial infection; while antibiotics are usually prescribed, they are often useless. Patients thus face other treatment options and some indeed respond to a variety of strategies, some better validated than others: Massage, trigger point release, intra-prostatic injections of antibiotics, herbal supplements, hypnosis, acupuncture, and anti-inflammatory medications. But when these treatments do not work, men with chronic prostatitis then become the sort of patient few doctors want to see: The one who complains but for whom there is no remedy. They become the patient whose problem is “all in his head.”

So is there any hope? In 2007, a prostatitis patient named David had lost hope after dutifully seeking cure for 8 years of severe symptoms. At the “end of my rope,” he asked to have his prostate removed. After extensive discussion about lack of scientific proof and all kinds of risk, he had a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, a common treatment for prostate cancer, which immediately, completely, and durably eliminated his symptoms: It has been 3 years and he is completely asymptomatic and fully functional.

In response to the experience with David, the Krongrad Institute, which did his surgery, is conducting a clinical trial to quantify the effect of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis.  The idea is to see if David was an exception or the rule. It is also to allow tomorrow’s patients to make informed decisions about the role of surgery.

Chronic prostatitis can last decades and destroy all semblance of normal life. It affects thousands of men and their families. We need to talk about chronic prostatitis. For more information, readers are encouraged to check out the Prostatitis Surgery web site and the Prostatitis Blog.

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Blurb about today’s Guest Blogger:

Arnon Krongrad, MD is a urologist who specializing in the use of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of prostate cancer and severe, treatment-resistant chronic prostatitis.

Although summer break for many Americans is inconceivably more than half over, there are still many vacations, barbeques and outdoor games to be had. While you’re enjoying the sunshine, make sure you’re being nice to your skin. This is of particular concern to men, who on average spend more time outdoors for both work and play than women. Continue Reading

CHECK THIS POST OUT ON SCRIBD

The following post is paraphrased from one of my recent guest lectures. It sparked enormous debate and I was very pleased to see college students taking the initiative to discuss their health among peers. Although the topic was testicular cancer and testicular self-examination, I told the females in the class to parallel the discussion to breast cancer and breast self-examination.

…and so the lecture/discussion began:

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Do women make better doctors?  A recent editorial by Pauline Chen, M.D. in the New York Times posed this thought-provoking question, which led me to recall my previous experiences with physicians of both genders.  It is an interesting concept when you think about it.  So many of the same qualities that mothers generally have – caring, compassion and a nurturing spirit – were possessed by many of the women doctors that I have interacted with.  I won’t go so far as to say that I prefer a female physician over a male, but just based on past experiences, I felt more comfortable when cared for by a female physician.  And while research studies do support the theory that female doctors are considered “better” in the patient’s perspective, the literature also indicates that the patient’s gender also plays an important role.  Dr. Chen indicates that female patients had particular expectations depending on their physician’s gender.  For example, when seen by female physicians, they reported satisfaction when physicians expressed great concern and empathy during the visit.  In contrast, female patients were more satisfied with male physicians who did not overtly show concern or empathy.  Male patients, on the other hand reported satisfaction, regardless of the physician’s gender.  Moreover, female patients were more likely to engage in discussions with their physician regarding their illness compared to their male counterparts.
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First of all, Happy New Year!

USA Today featured a comprehensive story on college football coaches and their total salaries (breakdowns of base salaries and bonuses, etc.) in early November. The highest paid coaches in 2009 lead the most prestigious football programs in the country, including Pete Carroll of Southern California, Bob Stoops of Oklahoma and Urban Meyers of Florida, among others. The aforementioned coaches made at least $4 million dollars in total salary in 2009 (access the full list here). $4 million. A salary of $4 million is higher than most professions, but unfortunately the pressures of receiving such a salary can take their toll. Urban Meyer, for example, recently resigned from his coaching job at the University of Florida due to recent health problems, in which Meyer lost consciousness and was admitted to the hospital. Fortunately for Meyer, there was no heart damage. But he had been experiencing chest pains for the past two years. He reportedly lost 20 pounds during a 10-day period around the SEC title game against arch-rival Alabama. A competitive drive and relentlessness such as Meyer’s are shared, to some degree, by many. It is this same drive that leads to burn out and potential health problems. It is important to be aware of warning signs and symptoms and to discuss any concerns with a physician. Take note of changes and the duration of those changes. For example, weight loss in the past 10 days resulting from a loss of appetite. It is important that each of us takes a more proactive role in maintain our health and well-being, both physically and mentally. Physicians cannot be relied upon to solve all of our health care problems; their job is done more accurately and efficiently when we are fully engaged and assist them in the process.
For this new year, I encourage each of you to reflect on what your health means to you. Remember that health is a resource for living. It is our vehicle to enjoy all that life has to offer, whether it’s traveling, sports, cooking, music or the arts. I wish each of you a healthy and prosperous 2010!

If you have any questions or comments, please drop me a line at ramonl@menshealthnetwork.net.