Men’s Health Issues A cut, a shave and some good advice

Men’s Health Issues: A cut, a shave and some good advice Birgit Bogler, MPA presentation to Barbers International Convention October 16, 2006 Source: www.CartoonStock.com Overview • • • • Barbers as trusted peer educators Skin cancer and the big myth Prostate cancer and the bigger myth Colorectal cancer and the biggest myth Why am I here? • Barbers can be trusted peer educators – Brother-to-Brother project (HIV risk reduction) – Centers for Disease Control • Early detection of cancer • University of Alabama at Birmingham • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The Big Myth • Myth: only fair-skinned people get skin cancer Fact Skin Cancer • Three major types – Basal cell carcinoma – Squamous cell carcinoma – Malignant melanoma • Sun exposure responsible for 90% • Most common cancer in U.S. – 1.2 million basal & squamous cell carcinomas – 60,000 melanomas • Almost 10,000 Americans die each year Quick Anatomy Source: www.CartoonStock.com Basal Cell • Chronic overexposure to the sun – Face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders and back • When not treated quickly, difficult to eliminate – Scars and disfigurement • Low rate of metastasis Basal Cell An open sore *persistent, nonhealing sore is early sign A reddish patch *chest, shoulders, arms, or legs A shiny bump Basal Cell A scar-like area A pink growth *White, yellow or waxy with uneven borders *Can indicate aggressive tumor Basal Cell • No one best method to treat – Cryosurgery, topical chemo, laser, radiation • Almost all treatments in doctor’s office • Most need only local anesthetic • Cure rates 85-99% Squamous Cell • Chronic overexposure to the sun – All places exposed to sun – Rim of ear and lower lip especially vulnerable • When not treated quickly, harder to treat – Scars and disfigurement Squamous Cell • 96-97% remain localized • Those that spread can be fatal – SCC found on lip, ear, nose have high risk for metastases – In persons with weakened immune systems Squamous Cell A wart-like growth A scaly-red patch A scaly-red patch An elevated growth with a central depression *can rapidly grow Squamous Cell • No one best method to treat – Cryosurgery, topical chemo, laser, radiation • Almost all treatments in doctor’s office • Most need only local anesthetic • Cure rates 85-99% Melanoma • Most serious form of skin cancer – Causes the most skin cancer deaths • If found early nearly 100% curable – If not, high chance of metastases – Can be hard to treat Melanoma • Malignant tumor in the melanocytes – Cells that produce pigment for skin, hair, eyes – Cells heavily concentrated in moles • Melanoma is usually brown but can be pink, red or purple • Increased risk – – – – – Sun exposure and tanning beds Lots of moles Fairer skin – but darker skin is no protection Personal history of skin cancer or lymphoma Weakened immune system Melanoma ABCDs Asymmetry Border Color Diameter Melanoma • Thin, localized melanomas are surgically removed – Most done in doctor’s office using local anesthesia • For more advanced disease, treatment varies – Melanoma can spread to lymph nodes and organs • Cure rates continue to rise The bigger myth • Prostate cancer is solely an older (65+) man’s disease Prostate Screening • FACT: the risk of developing prostate cancer increases beginning at age 40 – African American men have a 60% higher incidence rate and 2-fold higher mortality rate • PSA testing is more sensitive than digital rectal exam for detecting prostate cancer Talk about PSA • There are considerations: – There is no normal PSA level • The higher the PSA the more likely cancer is present – PSA alone cannot distinguish between cancer and benign prostate conditions – One abnormal PSA does not necessarily indicate the need for further diagnostic tests • Benign prostate enlargement, inflammation, infection, age and race can elevate PSA Encouragement • Encourage men to get a PSA – African American men 45-70 years old – Men 45-70 years old with a first degree relative with prostate cancer – All men 50-70 years old The biggest myth • There is nothing I can do about getting colorectal cancer Colorectal Cancer • FACT: colon cancer can almost always be prevented – Colon cancer can almost always be cured if found early • About 25% of people 50 and older have colon polyps • More than 90% of colon cancer is found in people 50 and older – People of African American or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry are at increased risk Colonoscopy • Encourage men to consider screening colonoscopy – Only test that can prevent colon cancer – Usually painless – Usually needed once every 10 years • There are other colon cancer tests – Not as effective as colonoscopy – Any test is better than none • Barbers can help increase rates of screening for highly curable cancers • Barbers can help decrease rates of mortality from highly curable cancers • Barbers can help reduce health disparities in mortality from highly curable cancers • Barbers can help save lives! Thank you Source: www.CartoonStock.com