HEALTHY REASONING: A Focus On Men’s Health

By Allan Jones
Pride Health Columnist

During the 30 days of November, we hear a lot about Movember. As an official global charity, Movember’s vision is to have an impact on the face of men’s health. The movement began in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia. Movember is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches around the world. Through the power of the moustache, vital funds and awareness of men’s health issues, primarily prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health challenges are achieved.

Men’s health is not a concern for just men. It should be a concern for all of us because the health problems encountered by men, is a problem for someone’s brother, uncle, grandfather, father, husband or other relative. It is a family problem.

This month as we celebrate Movember, it is a good time for us to be once again reminded of prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health issues.

All men over the age of 40 are potentially at risk for prostate cancer and should speak to their doctor about the disease and early detection. There is a significant increase risk in men who have a family history of the disease or those of African descent, so Black men need to be even more vigilant.

Men over the age of 45 should have a prostate exam as part of their annual check-up. The exam should include the digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. The DRE involves the doctor using a finger to judge the size and consistency of the prostate gland, while the PSA is a blood test. Many men do not like the DRE test, due to its intrusive nature, and will stay away from any approach that could assess the status of their prostate cancer. For these men, I would suggest that doing the PSA test alone can give the doctor an idea of their prostate activity and could detect potential cancer, which would be confirmed through a prostate biopsy. My advice then is not to shun the total approach to see what’s happening with your prostate gland. The PSA test alone is better than not doing anything at all.

The women in our men’s lives are the ones that usually notice the more frequent need to go to the washroom to urinate; getting up frequently at nights to go the washroom. The woman can then suggest that the man go and see a doctor to see what the problem could be. Frequent and an urgent need to urinate could be due to many causes, however an enlarged prostate could be one cause. An enlarged prostate does not confirm cancer, because in most cases it is a non-cancerous. There are times though that the enlargement is accompanied by cancer cells. As all men age their prostate gland gets larger.

Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system. Testicular cancer is the second most common cancer, behind skin cancers, in young men aged 15 to 29 years. It starts as an abnormal growth or tumour that develops in one or both testicles. It is a highly treatable type of cancer with a very good cure rate of over 95% if found and treated early. It is estimated that 940 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed in Canada in 2013.

Self-examination and manipulation of the testicles is important. Testicular cancer commonly presents as a small hard lump, with swelling or a change in the consistency of the testicle. Some men also experience a dull ache in the testicle or lower abdomen. In the majority of cases, only one testicle is affected. Men, regardless of age, who find such an abnormality, should go to the doctor immediately. Not all lumps on the testicles are tumors, and not all tumors are cancerous. There are many other conditions which may be painful but are non-cancerous.

Regarding mental health, research has shown that men are less likely to get treatment for a mental health issue compared to their female counterparts. Raising awareness of mental illness is a key part of what Movember is all about.

Among the findings is the revelation that new fathers are also vulnerable to postpartum depression. In Canada, young and middle-aged men are being hospitalized for schizophrenia in increasing numbers. The gender gap among people with mental illness is much narrower than might be suspected. The StatsCan Canadian Community Health Survey on Mental health and well-being found that 10% of men experienced symptoms of the surveyed mental health disorders and substance dependencies, compared to 11% of women. In the United Kingdom, studies of depression show a major shift in the traditional gender imbalance, with depression rising among men and decreasing among women.

The greatest evidence of male vulnerability is in suicide statistics. Among Canadians of all ages, four of every five suicides are male. In the UK, men are around three times more likely to kill themselves than women. According to the Toronto Men’s Health Network (TMHN), even the concept of “men’s health” is relatively new in Canada. Dr. Don McCreary, co-chair of TMHN, associate editor of the International Journal of Men’s Health and one of a small handful of men’s health researchers in Canada, says there are a number of reasons for this.

One reason is the low priority given to men’s health issues in the research community. More funding and more specialists in this area will encourage ongoing research into male mental health.

There is still much to be done, especially after the end of November, when the focus on men’s health issues is reduced. It is up to us to ensure that men’s health issues remain a priority. Let us take the first steps, talk to your doctor about the prostate test; ask about testicular cancer; engage your doctor in a discussion about your feelings…your mental health. Our health is in our hands. 

Allan Jones is a Health Promoter and Broadcaster. He can be reached at ajones@jjmedical.ca.