June Observances

June 15-21, 2009 is National Men's Health Week

What better time to celebrate National Men's Health Week than the week leading up to and including Father's Day?

Since 1994 when the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives established National Men’s Health Week to create awareness that simple, diagnostic, and screening tests can save lives, National Men’s Health Week has grown into a month-long educational event. The month of June gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.

To acknowledge Men’s Health Week, part of this month’s CCR focus will be on men’s cancers.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in California and in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer death in men (after lung cancer). In 2009 it is expected that nearly 18,000 California men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and that 3060 will die from the disease.

African American men are at highest risk for prostate cancer. They are 45% more likely to develop the disease than non-Hispanic white men, over 60% more likely than Hispanic men and almost three times more likely than Asian Pacific Islander men to be diagnosed with the disease. The exact risk factors for prostate cancer are still unknown, but the following risk factors may increase the risk of developing the disease:

• Family history of prostate cancer in a brother or father
  
• High levels of testosterone
  
• Diet high in fat, especially animal fat
  

Symptoms of prostate cancer include:

• A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
  
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
  
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
  
• Painful or burning urination
  
• Difficulty in having an erection
  
• Painful ejaculation
  
• Blood in urine or semen
  
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs
  

It is possible that these symptoms can also indicate other diseases or disorders, such as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or prostatitis. Therefore, it is important to undergo a thorough examination to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Prostate cancer incidence rates in California and the rest of the country rose rapidly following the introduction and widespread use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test in the early 1990s. Rates have since dropped and stabilized until 2002 and have since slowly been dropping. Prostate cancer death rates have been steadily declining since 1988, thanks to improvements in early detection and treatment. If diagnosed early, the survival rate for prostate cancer is high, ranging from 100% if it is localized (confined to the prostate gland) to 70% if it has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body.

Compared to the rest of the country, the incidence rate of prostate cancer in California from 2001-2005 was 13% lower among Asian/Pacific Islanders and African Americans, 8% lower among Hispanics, and 7% lower among non-Hispanic White men, when compared to the rest of the country.

Numerous programs offer assistance to those with prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society’s Man to Man program, provides information on the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer, and offers education and support programs for those diagnosed with prostate cancer and their partners. Let’s Talk About It, in collaboration with ACS and the 100 Black Men of America, seeks to educate African American men about prostate cancer. The California Prostate Cancer Coalition, an advocacy organization, was formed to advocate for prostate cancer as a statewide public health issue.

For more information on these and other programs, go to the following websites*:

• Prostate Cancer Foundtion

• American Cancer Society - Man to Man

• California Prostate Cancer Coalition

• Men's Health Network (Women Against Prostate Cancer)

• American Cancer Society

• National Cancer Institute

*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the California Cancer Registry or the California Department of Public Health.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer accounts for about 1% of cancers in males, but it is the most common cancer among males ages 15-34, occurring in 1 out of every 300 men over the course of a lifetime. In 2009 it is expected that 990 cases of testicular cancer in California will be diagnosed and that 65 will die from the disease.

Risk factors of testicular cancer include:

• an undescended testicle (cryptorchidism)
• carcinoma in situ of the testicle
• being a white male between the ages 20-54having a family history of the disease.
  

Other risk factors may include infection with HIV and cancer of the other testicle.

The most obvious symptom of testicular cancer is a lump on the testicle that may make it look large or swollen. There is usually no pain associated with it, but there may be a feeling of heaviness or aching in the lower abdomen or scrotum. Other symptoms can include:

• A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
  
• Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
  
• Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts
  
• Unexplained fatigue, or a general feeling of not being well.
  

It’s important to see your doctor, particularly if the symptoms last longer than two weeks.

The incidence rate of testicular cancer is five time higher for white men than it is for black men. The rates among California white and Hispanic males increased between one and two percent per year from 1988 – 2005. However, the mortality rates among these groups remained unchanged. The incidence rates of African American males also increased, but began a decline around 2001. Incidence rates among Asian/Pacific Islander males did not change significantly during this time period.

The risk of dying from testicular cancer is low, because it can be treated and cured if caught early. That is why is it important to do monthly self exams of the testicle for men starting about age 14. This is a good way of getting familiar with what feels normal and thus help to detect testicular cancer at an early and curable stage.

For instruction on how to do a testicular self exam, go to http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_2_3X_Do_I_Have_Testicular_Cancer.asp

June 7, 2009 is National Cancer Survivors’ Day

The month of June also recognizes National Cancer Survivors’ Day, which always falls on the first Sunday of June. National Cancer Survivors’ Day is an annual, worldwide celebration of life that is held in hundreds of communities throughout the United States, Canada, and other participating countries. Participants unite in a symbolic event to show the world that people with cancer can lead an active and productive life.

In the beginning of the last century, the cancer mortality rate was very high. By the 1930s, less than 20% of those diagnosed with cancer were alive five years after treatment; in the 1940s it was 25%, and in the 1960s, it was about 33%. It is estimated that for 2009, over 60% of cancer patients will be alive 5 years after diagnosis and treatment. This translates to close to 90,000 Californians.

Longer survival times occur because of the major advances in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. However, longer survival times, can lead to other challenges, such as physical, emotional, and financial hardships. However, with proper guidance, cancer survivors can lead active, productive lives even though they still face many challenges.

The non-profit National Cancer Survivors’ Day Foundation* provides guidance, education and networking opportunities to hospitals, support groups, and other cancer-related organizations that host National Cancer Survivors’ Day events in their communities. To obtain more information on this organization, and to order a planning kit, go to http://www.ncsdf.org/index.html. To locate an event near you, e-mail info@ncsdf.org or call 615-794-3006.