MEDICAL
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Cancer and men: THE FACTS Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia – more than 43,000 people are estimated to have died from cancer in 2010. In Australia, one in two men will have been diagnosed with cancer at some stage of their life by age 85. Overall, cancer now kills more Australian men than heart disease. Even though less than half of the Australian population is male, more men than women are diagnosed with cancer each year. Unfortunately for blokes, survival after diagnosis is also better in women. The four most common cancers in males are prostate, bowel, lung and melanoma. They account for 60% of cancers in males. The most common causes of cancer-related death in males are lung, prostate and bowel cancer. Here’s a snapshot of the breakdown: [Add graph here] Source: AIHW National Mortality Database Other cancers commonly affecting men include testicular cancer, kidney, liver, head and neck, oesophagus and bladder cancer. The good news is at least one-in-three cancer cases are preventable. Thousands of men’s lives could be saved by making healthy lifestyle decisions such as: t Quit smoking – lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Australian men t Take care in the sun – protect yourself from the harmful effects of UV radiation by applying sunscreen, covering up and limiting the time spent in the sun t Stay in shape – aim to maintain a healthy body weight t Move your body – be physically active for at least 30 minutes on most days or every day t Maintain a healthy diet– choose a varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and limit your intake of red meat t Avoid alcohol – try alcohol-free days and nonalcoholic drinks t Check-ups - have regular age-appropriate health check-ups with your doctor. Some risk factors for cancer, however, are inherited and cannot be avoided through personal action. By detecting cancer in its early stages, the chances of beating the disease are improved. Cancer symptoms depend on where the cancer is in the body and may include: t -VNQT TPSFT PS VMDFST UIBU EPO U IFBM t $PVHIT UIBU EPO U HP BXBZ PS XIJDI TIPX blood, or hoarseness that hangs around t #SFBUIMFTTOFTT
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90% of cases can be cured. The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends all Australians aged 50 and over have bowel cancer screening every two years. In 2006 the Federal Government introduced a National Bowel Cancer Screening program, inviting people turning 50, 55 and 65 to take a one-off faecal occult blood test to check for early signs of the disease.
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Professor David Ashley is the Director of Cancer Services at Barwon Health and the Medical Director for the Barwon South Western Regional Integrated Cancer Service.
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These symptoms are often related to more common, less serious health problems. However, if any unusual changes are detected, a medical practitioner should follow up these symptoms. As indicated in the snapshot above, lung cancer causes more than one in five cancer deaths. Cigarette smoking is the major cause, although some people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked. Occupational exposures to asbestos, radon, hydrocarbons and metals (e.g. chromium, nickel) are also associated with lung cancer. There is no routine screening test for lung cancer. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed male cancer, affecting men from their 40s onwards and with a similar incidence to breast cancer in women. Every week, about 250 Australian men are diagnosed and about 50 will die of prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia recommends that men aged 50 with no family history of prostate cancer, and men at 40 with a family history, should seek voluntary annual assessments in the form of a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test together with a digital rectal examination. The Cancer Council Australia and the intergovernmental Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council have developed a joint statement summarising key messages about screening for prostate cancer, including an interpretation of the two large international trials of PSA as a screening tool. The statement has been endorsed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and Andrology Australia, the nation’s centre of excellence in male reproductive health. They suggest men considering being tested for prostate cancer should do so with information on both the benefits and harms of testing and treatment. Men are encouraged to speak to their doctor so they can make an informed choice about prostate cancer testing. Second to prostate, bowel cancer in men kills 73 Australians each week. If found early, over
This is one of nine Integrated Cancer Services established statewide to improve coordination and integration of cancer care. Further information is available at http://www.swarh2. com.au/bswrics#. References
Blue September campaign: http://www.blueseptember. org.au/about_blue_september.php The Cancer Council Australia 2006. Working with Cancer: a workplace resource for leaders, managers, trainers and employees. NSW: The Cancer Council Australia. February 2007 The Cancer Council Australia, Position statement on Prostate Cancer Screening available at: http://www. c a n c e r. o r g . a u / p o l i c y / p o s i t i o n s t a t e m e n t s / prostatecancer.htm Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia: Policy statement on PSA Screening available at: http://www. prostate.org.au/articleLive/pages/Testing-andDiagnosis.html Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Cancer Statistics available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/ cancer/#mortality