Blue September - Men's Health

http://www.blueseptember.org.uk/

Whilst looking for a suitable subject matter for my first health blog post, I stumbled upon the NHS events calendar.  This is a rather exhaustive list of virtually every disease, syndrome or even symptom known to man,  laid out in calendar format.  Ideal for the hypochondriac within all of us, as we flick from eczema one week, to migraine the next then onto dizziness and balance in a fortnights time.  Until we remember, that there are real people suffering from these illnesses all the time and resources like this help, not only with fundraising, but also to raise awareness and if possible, prevent future illness.

Raising awareness of  Men's health.  

This one stuck out as a subject that we see and hear about too often in pharmacy and everyday life.  Without meaning to generalise, (she says, whilst making a HUGE assumption), women are better at talking about their health.  When something's not quite right, we talk to our family, our friends, our GP, our work colleagues, to anyone who'll listen really.  We seek out advice.  We are also used to preventative screening for cervical cancer and breast cancer.  But, men are less aware of cancer symptoms than women.  Blue September aims to change this.

Early Detection

Symptoms vary from cancer to cancer.  But by knowing some of the common symptoms, you'll increase your chance of detecting cancer in the early stages.  Common symptoms include:

• Unusual growths or lumps
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• A sore or ulcer that will not heal
• Nagging cough or hoarseness
• Coughing up blood
• A mole that bleeds or changes shape
• Unexplained changes in bowel or bladder habits
• Unusual discharges
• Blood or brown ‘coffee grounds’ in vomit or stools
• Recurrent pain in any part of the body 

These symptoms are often related to more common, less serious health problems. However, if you notice any unusual changes, or these symptoms persist, do not hesitate to visit your doctor.

Also have a look at http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer/Pages/Symptoms.aspx  for more excellent advice.

Bowel Cancer Screening

Did you know that The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in England started in July 2006? If you are aged between 60 and 69, you will automatically be invited to take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme every two years and that from July 2012 the screening programme is being extended in England to those aged 70 to 75.  You can also request a screening kit by calling the freephone helpline 0800 707 6060.

Screening consists of a home testing kit, called an FOBt (faecal occult blood test) kit. The kit arrives through the post when screening is due. The kit is used to collect tiny stool samples on a special card. The card is then sealed in a special hygienic freepost envelope and sent to a laboratory where it will be checked for traces of blood, which may indicate a problem.

If you get invited to take part, please consider doing so very carefully. If you are not sure, talk to your GP or partner, family or friends about it. The screen can detect bowel cancer before obvious symptoms begin to appear and can be a real life-saver.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is relatively rare, affecting over 2,000 men every year, but the numbers are increasing. It is also the most common cancer in young men. Fortunately, it is rarely fatal, well under 100 men die from testicular cancer each year in the UK. It is one of the most treatable cancers, especially if caught early.

Symptoms often present as a lump on a testicle, enlargement or swelling of the scrotum, or a dull ache or pain felt in the testes.  It's important to remember that testicular cancer may not cause any discomfort or pain, especially in the early stages. The most common symptom is a small painless lump.

Any of these symptoms can also have benign (i.e. non-cancerous) causes, but they should always be checked by a doctor.

Here are two testicular cancer patients talking about their experience and why it is important to check for early warning signs

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cancer-of-the-testicle/Pages/Jack-and-Marks-stories.aspx

Lifestyle Choices

You've heard it before, but the evidence shows that bombarding you with the same message over and over, will eventually get through to some of you, not all, but some will make a change to their lifestyle that improves their long-term health.  So, lets run through them again:

• Stub out the fags – smoking is the main cause of lung cancer and increases the risk of developing over 12 other cancers, including mouth and bowel cancers.
• Cut back on the booze - try alcohol-free days and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Do some exercise - aim to maintain a healthy body weight.
• Eat fresh food, not fast food - choose a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and limit your intake of red or processed meat. 
• Get up and get active - be physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days or every day.
• Be sun safe - protect yourself from the harmful effects of UV radiation by applying sunscreen, covering up and limiting the time spent in the sun.

If you want more detailed help and support go to http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/Pages/Livewellhub.aspx 

Where does community pharmacy fit into all of this?

Pharmacists are medicines experts, but also are able to offer health and lifestyle advice.  You don't need an appointment and there will always be a pharmacist there ready to offer the help you need.  You can get support and NHS treatment for stopping smoking, we can take your blood pressure, support you in your weight loss programme.  Some pharmacies are also able to check your cholesterol levels and diabetes risk through a simple, finger-prick test.

So there is the challenge, to all men reading this.  Get checking yourselves, keep an eye out for any changes or other worrying symptoms and, most importantly, if you are worried then speak to someone about it!