Men’s Health Week takes place in June each year; it was started in the US in 1994 to increase awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys.

This month we take a look at the broad role pathology plays in some conditions affecting men.

Heart disease

The biggest killer of men in Australia is heart disease. The Heart Foundation says 98 Australian men have a heart attack every day with 1 in 7 dying. Heart disease has a number of risk factors that are modifiable and pathology can help to identify risk and measure improvement by use of cholesterol testing.

Total cholesterol testing measures levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL or ‘good’) cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL or ‘bad’) cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

A person’s total cholesterol score will show whether they are at greater risk of developing heart disease and having a heart attack. High ‘bad’ cholesterol and triglycerides can cause the arteries to harden and narrow. Having a blood test to find out cholesterol levels is highly recommended, particularly for men over 45. Changes in diet can help lower ‘bad’ cholesterol and reduce risk and follow-up pathology results can monitor improvement.

Although younger men may be less likely to worry about heart health, cholesterol testing is also advisable for those under 45 who are in high risk groups. Men with heart disease in their family, who are overweight or have diabetes are all at increased risk and recent research has also drawn a link between mental health and heart disease.

Melanoma

Men are more likely to suffer from melanoma than women and more likely to die from the disease.

Research suggests that, as well as other biological differences, men develop melanoma more on their backs and chests, whereas it is more common on the arms and legs in women. Back and chest areas are harder to see meaning the cancer may go unnoticed longer in men. It is also more difficult for someone to apply sunscreen to their own back when it is exposed to the sun. As men may be less likely to seek help with sunscreen application, this places them at further risk.

Pathology is crucial for melanoma diagnosis which is done via a biopsy of a lesion removed from the skin.

Testicular cancer

The most common cancer in men aged 18-39 is testicular cancer, according to Cancer Council. Diagnosis of testicular cancer starts with a physical examination and may then include laboratory tests for tumour markers, such as AFP (alpha-fetoprotein), hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase). An ultrasound may also be used to distinguish between cancer and other possibilities such as infection.

Should these tests indicate testicular cancer is likely, diagnosis is confirmed by removing the testicle, which is then biopsied.

A biopsy performed while the testicle is still in situ risks spreading the cancer so the testicle is removed in cases where cancer is strongly suspected. This also acts as the first stage of treatment and further treatment may not be needed if the cancer is detected early.

Once testicular cancer is diagnosed, blood tests to monitor tumour markers can also help doctors to assess the patient’s response to treatment.

Sexually transmitted infections

With research showing that sexually transmitted infection (STIs) rates continue to rise, STI screening is an essential part of men’s health.

In terms of everyday human activities, sex is one of the easiest ways to spread infection and although many men feel that they are in a low risk category for STIs, screening is important to rule out ‘silent’ infections and protect sexual partners.

Chlamydia has raised concern recently as rates are high amongst Australians on the dating scene, including over 50s. Around 50% of chlamydia cases in men have no symptoms and diagnosis can only be made using pathology testing of either a urine sample or a cell sample collected from the urethra (or the cervix in women).

The infection is easily spread and when left untreated can damage fertility in women and can even lead to men becoming sterile in some cases.

Other infections which can be passed on through sex, such as herpes, can increase the risk of contracting more serious diseases like HIV. A sexual health check can help identify any suspect lesions which can then be swabbed to collect a cell sample for pathology testing.

The post Men’s health: much more than ‘man flu’ first appeared on Know Pathology Know Healthcare.

Karen is a mother of three who was diagnosed with skin cancer after finding a mole on her back in January 2012. In February 2013 she found a lump under her arm; her doctor ordered an ultrasound and a needle biopsy to investigate and stage IV melanoma was confirmed.

After diagnosis, Karen’s prognosis was poor; at the time, treatment options were limited and she was told to ‘get things in order’.

Karen said, “I wasn’t prepared to take that; I have a six year old, a twelve year old and a fourteen year old to think about.”

Determined not to give up and to do everything she could to tackle the cancer, Karen did some research and discovered that clinical trials of some new immunotherapy drugs were taking place at only two sites in Australia, Melbourne and Perth.

Fortunately, Karen was accepted into the Melbourne drug trial, she now flies in every fortnight from Adelaide to receive treatment.

Pathology is an important part of the clinical trial process and Karen has blood tests every fortnight to monitor how she is responding to treatment and any side effects of the drugs.

Karen is now involved in several trials that rely on her original tissue sample and blood tests to identify why treatment is working for her but may not be effective in other patients.

Karen said, “The team at the hospital are magnificent.” Her health quickly improved after treatment began in October 2013, “Within one month I had a turnaround, tumours throughout my body were healing,” she said.

Pathology’s role is crucial in continuing to monitor Karen’s progress and how the drugs may be affecting her body.

Karen said, “I’ve had lung inflammation as a side effect. I’ve been given a puffer to help with that and I know another woman on the trial who had a liver problem that was picked up by blood tests. The drugs can have various side effects on different organs so pathology testing is really important.”

Pathology’s role in fighting cancer also goes beyond monitoring.

“I’ve given my consent for the team to slice up the tumours I’ve had removed for research and to put in the cancer bank,” said Karen.

The tumours Karen had removed will be stored by the Victorian Cancer Biobank alongside thousands of other specimens which help researchers to better understand cancer and improve diagnosis and treatment.

Karen receives incredible support from family and friends, and says it would be very hard to do this without them. She is also a facilitator for Melanoma Patients Australia who run support groups and provide information to people with melanoma, their families and friends.

The post Pathology helps Karen fight cancer first appeared on Know Pathology Know Healthcare.