Men's Health Archives - Illawarra Medical Centre

Lung cancer – one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men

walrus — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 08:16:09 +0000

Lung cancer is one of the top five most common causes of death in Australian males, with close to 5,000 male deaths recorded in 2023 and more than 7,600 Australian men diagnosed with the disease that same year.

With Men’s Health Week recently focusing on the major health issues affecting males, we thought we’d take a closer look at lung cancer’s impact on men in this month’s blog.

What is Lung Cancer?

It occurs when abnormal cells in the lungs grow in an uncontrolled way and form a malignant tumour in the lung. Tumours that start in the lung are known as primary lung cancer. However, people can also develop secondary or metastatic lung tumours due to cancer that has spread from other parts of the body.

There are two types :

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) – which accounts for around 85% of cases and includes adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell undifferentiated carcinoma.
Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) – which accounts for around 15% of cases. SCLC usually begins in the middle of the lungs and spreads more quickly than NSCLC.

As noted by Cancer Australia, lung cancer was the most common cause of death from cancer in 2021 and is expected to continue to be so over coming years.

Symptoms

In the early stages, symptoms may not be noticeable. In later stages of the disease, symptoms may include:

A new and persistent cough that lasts more than 3 weeks
Shortness of breath
Increased hoarseness, wheezing or changes to the voice
Chest or shoulder pain
Coughing or spitting up blood
A chest infection that lasts more than 3 weeks or keeps coming back
Enlarged fingertips
Abdominal and/or joint pain
Fatigue
Unintentional weight loss

These symptoms may not mean that you have the disease. However, if you do experience any of these symptoms, it is best to speak with your GP immediately to find out why they may be occurring. An early diagnosis will lead to better treatment outcomes.

Risk Factors

There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. These include:

Smoking tobacco or exposure to second-hand smoke.
A family history of the disease
Older age, with most cases occurring in people over the age of 60
Significant exposure to certain substances, such as asbestos, radon or occupational substances such as arsenic, cadmium, nickel, diesel fumes and soot
Having and existing lung disease, such as pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Smoking is the number one risk factor for developing the disease and accounts for 85% of all cases.

Men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with lung cancer than women, due to their increased likelihood of smoking and occupational and environmental exposure to cancer-causing substances

According to Cancer Council Australia, smoking causes about 90% of this cancer in men and there is a 1 in 15 chance of a man being diagnosed with the disease before the age of 85.

Males are also more likely to use e-cigarettes or vapes. While there is currently no evidence that these cause lung cancer, Lung Foundation Australia notes that studies have found people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking tobacco cigarettes, which is the leading cause of lung cancer.

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Diagnosis is normally achieved using one or more of the following tests:

Blood tests
Imaging scans – including x-ray, CT scan, PET scan
Spirometry or lung function test
Biopsy
Sputum cytology

How is it treated?

There are a number of different treatment options available, depending on your prognosis and the progression and growth of the disease. Treatment options generally include:

Surgery
Radiation therapy
Thermal ablation
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Targeted therapy
Palliative care

Your doctor will discuss the treatment options available to you and recommend the best course of action.

To make a booking with one of our GPs to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your lungs or overall health in general, visit our Online Bookings page or contact us on (08) 9208 6400.

Where can I find out more information?

For more information on this topic, visit:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/overview-of-cancer-in-australia-2023
Cancer Australia – https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/lung-cancer/overview
Cancer Council – https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/lung-cancer
Health Direct – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/lung-cancer
Healthy WA – https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/J_M/Lung-cancer
Lung Foundation Australia – https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/conditions/lung-cancer/overview/
World Health Organization – https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lung-cancer

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Prostate cancer in Australian men

walrus — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 02:38:28 +0000

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men, with more than 240,000 Australian males currently impacted by the disease and another 66 men diagnosed each day.

With September being Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we thought we’d take a closer look at the disease in this month’s blog.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate gland develop more quickly than in a normal prostate, forming a malignant tumour.

The prostate is a small gland that is about the size of a walnut and sits below the bladder near the rectum. It surrounds the urethra, the passage of the penis through which urine and semen pass.

Only men have a prostate and it forms part of the male reproductive system. It produces some of the nutrients that sperm need once they leave the body and secretions from the prostate make up a large part of semen.

It is generally a slow growing disease and has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers. Those diagnosed with the disease have a 95% chance of survival beyond 5 years, when detected early. If found late, however, those survival rates drop to below 26%.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

In the early stages, there are rarely symptoms. In later stages of the disease, some symptoms may include:

frequent urination, particularly at night;
a delay in starting when wanting to urinate;
a weak stream when urinating;
dribbling at the end of urinating;
a lack of bladder control (incontinence);
pain when urinating or ejaculating;
blood in the urine or semen; and
bone pain, particularly in the lower back or pelvis.

These symptoms may not mean that you have cancer. However, if you do experience any of these symptoms, it is best to speak with your GP immediately to find out why they may be occurring.

Risk factors of prostate cancer

There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing the disease. These include:

Family History – a family history of prostate, breast or ovarian cancer increases your own risk of developing the disease, particularly if your father or brother developed prostate cancer at a young age. If this is you, make sure you speak to your doctor about getting a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test at 45 years of age.

Race – those of African and Caribbean descent are at slightly more risk of developing the disease. If this applies slot hoki to you, it is recommended you speak to your doctor about getting a PSA blood test at 45 years of age.

Diet and Lifestyle – while there is no direct evidence to suggest diet and lifestyle increase your risk of developing the disease, it is still recommended that you maintain a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, remain physically active and minimise alcohol consumption to improve your overall health.

Age – this is the main risk factor and your risk increases rapidly after 50 years of age. The risk of developing prostate cancer increases to 1 in 7 by the age of 75 and 1 in 5 by the age of 85. The disease is uncommon in men under 50.

How is it diagnosed?

There is no simple, single test to detect the disease. If your doctor suspects you may have prostate cancer, they will generally recommend you undergo one or more of the following tests:

Digital Rectal Examination. This involves your doctor inserting a gloved finger into your rectum to feel your prostate to tell if it is enlarged or not.
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test. This measures the PSA levels in your blood. Most of the PSA in your body is made by the prostate. When the prostate is damaged, PSA leaks into the blood. PSA levels can be variable and an elevated PSA level does not mean you have prostate cancer. In fact, some men with prostate cancer have normal PSA levels and only one in three men with elevated PSA levels has cancer.
Prostate Biopsy. A biopsy is the only way a firm diagnosis of prostate cancer can be made. It involves removing small samples of tissue from your prostate using very thin, hollow needles, guided by an ultrasound. The tissue is then sent to a pathologist to determine whether the cells are malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). It will also help determine the aggressiveness of the disease, if present.

How is it treated?

There are a number of different treatment options available, depending on your prognosis and the progression and growth of the disease.

Treatment options generally include:

Active surveillance
Prostatectomy
Radiotherapy
Hormone therapy
Chemotherapy

If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, your doctor will discuss the treatment options available to you and recommend the best course of action.

To make a booking with one of our GPs to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your prostate or overall health in general, visit our Online Bookings page or contact us on (08) 9208 6400.

Where can I find out more information?

For more information on this topic, visit:

Australian Cancer Research Foundation – https://www.acrf.com.au/
Cancer Council – https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/prostate-cancer
Health Direct – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/prostate-cancer
HealthyWA – https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Prostate-cancer
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia – https://www.pcfa.org.au/askpcfa/

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Monkeypox

walrus — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 07:54:00 +0000

Monkeypox has come to the world’s attention in recent months, with increasing numbers being seen globally. The virus has even made its way into Western Australia, with the first case reported in a returned traveller on the 4^th August.

In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at monkeypox to find out who’s most at risk and how you can prevent catching the disease.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is not a new virus. It was first discovered in 1958 in colonies of monkeys kept for research in Africa, hence the name ‘monkeypox’.

While it is a viral zoonotic disease, which means it can spread between animals and humans, the virus doesn’t actually come from monkeys. In fact, it is more commonly spread via rodents.

Monkeypox is from the same family of viruses as the variole virus, which causes smallpox.

The first human case of the disease was identified in 1970 and occurs most commonly in the tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa. It has previously been found in other countries, mostly in those who have travelled to these regions.

In May of this year, we started to see a global increase in monkeypox infections in countries where the illness is not usually present, including here in Australia. As such, the World Health Organization recently declared the virus a public health emergency of international concern.

This video from the World Health Organization helps easily explain the current global situation with monkeypox>>

Common symptoms

Symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus and include:

a distinctive rash, lesions (bumps that turn into pimples, blisters or sores, and may burst to form ulcers or scabs)
swollen lymph nodes
fever
headache
muscle aches
joint pain
back pain
chills
exhaustion

The distinctive rash can appear as lesions of various size and number. They look similar to the blisters associated with chickenpox, but are generally larger and can burst to form ulcers or scabs.

The rash, which can be very painful, generally starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body, including hands, feet, and chest. Some people have also reported the rash appearing in the genital and perianal regions, without spreading to other areas of the body.

While the disease can be serious and cause some people to become very ill, most people slot luar negeri will find their symptoms clear up on their own after 2 to 4 weeks.

If you do develop monkeypox and experience any of the following symptoms, please seek medical help immediately:

your rash becomes very painful and/or gets infected
your fever, nausea or vomiting gets worse
you can’t eat or drink
you have difficulty breathing or feel dizzy and confused

How do you get monkeypox?

Monkeypox is spread from person to person through:

close contact with rashes, blisters or sores on the skin
body fluids, including respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing
contaminated objects such as linen and towels.

The virus can also be transmitted in pregnancy, via the placenta to the foetus.

While it is not regarded as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), it can be easily transmitted through sexual activity involving physical contact with the infectious skin rashes, blisters and sores.

It is recommended that people who have recovered from the virus continue to use condoms and protection when engaging in sexual activity for 8 weeks after recovery.

Respiratory transmission of the disease is less common and usually only occurs when there is prolonged face-to-face contact.

Risk factors

Those at greatest risk of contracting the virus include people who have had close physical contact with an infected person and Australian travellers returning from, or going to, countries with confirmed cases.

Young children, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people are also at higher risk of severe disease with monkeypox.

If you are in one of these high-risk groups and develop symptoms, please seek medical help straight away.

Prevention

To help prevent the spread of monkeypox, you should:

isolate from others, if positive, until all sores are fully cleared
avoid physical contact with infected persons, including linen, towels and other household items they may have been in contact with
keep up the hand hygiene by regularly washing hands with soap and water or using an alcohol based hand sanitiser
wear a mask if infected or in close contact with a positive case.

There is a vaccine available for monkeypox, however, these are currently in limited supply. As noted by the WA Health Department, Western Australia is working to secure supplies for those at highest risk of contracting monkeypox.

At this stage, widespread vaccination is not recommended, due to the low risk of infection for the general population.

Treatment

Most people will require no treatment for monkeypox and will be able to manage the condition at home with simple pain relief.

For those with more severe disease, there are a number of antivirals available. For more information on these, visit https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/monkeypox-treatment-guidelines.

If you are concerned about any monkeypox symptoms or require any treatment, please make an appointment with one of our GPs. Bookings can be made online or by phoning (08) 9208 6400.

For more information on this topic, visit:

Australian Government Department of Health – https://www.health.gov.au/diseases/monkeypox-mpx
Centres for Disease, Control and Prevention (CDCP) – https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/about.html
Health Direct – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/monkeypox
HealthyWA – https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/J_M/Monkeypox
World Health Organization – https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/monkeypox-oubreak-2022

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Let’s Talk About Men’s Health

walrus — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 02:27:16 +0000

This week is Men’s Health Week, a timely reminder for us to talk about men’s health and raise awareness of the preventable health problems affecting Australia’s men and boys.

We know that men and boys are less likely to talk about or seek help for any health concerns or issues they may have. We also know that men have a shorter life expectancy than women and die more often than women from preventable causes.

So let’s take a look at some of the major health issues affecting men and what can be done to help them live happier, healthier, longer lives.

Men’s Health – The Stats

According to the statistics, a baby boy born in Australia in 2010 has a life expectancy of 78 years, while a baby girl born at the same time can expect to live to 82.3 years of age. Men are also four times more likely to take their own lives than women and are more prone to accidents, cancer and heart disease.

To help address these gaps, the Federal Government developed a National Men’s Health Strategy in 2018 to better engage and support Australian men and boys across all stages of their lives and ensure they can live a long, fulfilling and healthy life.

The National Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2030 sets out a plan to tackle the five key priority health areas for men, including:

Mental health
Chronic conditions
Sexual and reproductive health
Injuries and risk taking
Healthy ageing

Men and Mental Health

Mental health is about our ability to maintain healthy relationships with others and cope and function with the everyday trials, triumphs and challenges that life throws our way.

Continued or long-term feelings of distress and/or the inability to function and maintain relationships with others is a cause for concern and could indicate a mental illness.

The earlier we seek help for any mental health concerns, the better; particularly as mental health conditions are associated with poor physical health and premature death from suicide.

Globally, men account for 3 out of 4 suicides. In Australia, that equates to the loss of 191 men per month by suicide, as highlighted in this video from Movember>>

There are a number of simple things men can do to help maintain good mental health, including:

Stay connected – spend time with people who make you feel good.
Talk – if you are struggling with your mental health, talk to your GP or someone you trust.
Listen – if you know someone is having mental health issues, check in with them regularly.
Eat well – eating a healthy diet is not only good for your physical health, it can also help to give you a better overall sense of wellbeing.
Move more – keeping active can help you stay physically fit and mentally healthy and provides a healthy outlet for everyday stresses.
Cut back on drugs and alcohol – drugs and alcohol change the way your body and brain work and can cause symptoms of anxiety and depression or make an existing problem worse.
Get plenty of sleep – a good night’s sleep is crucial for your mental health and physical wellbeing.

Men and Chronic Health Conditions

Together, there are seven chronic health conditions that contribute to half of all adult male deaths in Australia. These are:

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
Cerebrovascular Disease
Type 2 Diabetes
Bowel Cancer
Lung Cancer
Dementia; and
Chronic Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Healthy lifestyle choices and reducing risk factors are key prevention tools against these chronic health conditions. To help reduce your risk:

Stay physically active by getting 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week and be active on 5 or more days per week.
Eat a balanced diet that includes sufficient fruit and vegetables and limit discretionary foods and drinks.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Steer clear of smoking and illicit substance use; and
Reduce your alcohol consumption.

Men and Sexual and Reproductive Health

Prostate and testicular cancer are both found in the male reproductive system, with prostate cancer being the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in males, accounting for a quarter of all cancer diagnoses.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in younger males aged 20-39 years.

While the survival rate for both cancers is high, early detection is the key. If you are aged over 50, are 45+ and of African or Caribbean descent, or have a family history of prostate cancer, talk to your GP about Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing. This is a simple routine blood test that measures the PSA concentration in your blood.

One of the easiest ways to reduce your risk of testicular cancer is to do a regular self-check and get to know what’s normal for you so that if things do change, you can act on it quickly. This short video from Movember shows you how>>

Men, Injuries and Risk Taking

According to the National Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2030, men account for the majority of the overall health burden related to injuries in Australia. This includes injuries due to assault and homicide, poisoning, alcohol and drugs, transport accidents, burns, drownings and falls, workplace related injuries, and self-inflicted injuries and suicide.

Males have been found to be more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour compared to females from an early age, and these behaviours tend to peak during adolescents and young adulthood.

One simple way to reduce your risk of injury is to stop and think twice before taking part in any potentially unsafe activity. If you think something is unsafe or dangerous, then you should probably avoid it. Keeping involved in sports, recreational activities, work and/or social networks can also help reduce the need to engage in risk-taking behaviours.

Men and Healthy Ageing

Eight of the ten top causes of death in Australian men are typically diseases of older age, including coronary heart disease (CHD), lung cancer, dementia, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), prostate cancer, bowel cancer and diabetes.

Taking a proactive approach to your health is the best way to influence your health and wellbeing as you get older and decreases your risk of developing chronic health conditions in later life.

This includes:

Remaining physically active throughout life;
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet; and
Staying active socially and regularly engaging with family, friends and community.

Concerned about your health?

At Illawarra Medical Centre, we provide a range of men’s health services and work with our male patients to better understand and treat the health issues affecting them. We can provide assistance with blood pressure, prostate, cholesterol, diabetes, fertility, cardiovascular disease and general health concerns.

So, if you have any health concerns, book in with one of our GPs. Appointments can be made online or by contacting us directly on (08) 9208 6400.

For more information on this topic, visit:

Australian Government Department of Health – https://www.health.gov.au/
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/men-women/male-health/contents/who-are-australias-males
Australian Men’s Health Forum – https://www.amhf.org.au/
Health Direct – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mens-health
Healthy Male (Andrology Australia) – https://www.healthymale.org.au/mens-health-week#cpnExplore
Men’s Health Week – https://www.menshealthweek.org.au/
Movember – https://au.movember.com/mens-health/general
Western Sydney University Men’s Health Information and Resource Centre – https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/mhirc/mens_health_information_and_resource_centre

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