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Top priority for fighting killer diseases
The Scottish Government launched a consultation on tackling two of Scotland's biggest killer diseases.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke still claim the lives of thousands of Scots every year, despite significant progress to cut death rates in recent years.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said fresh focus was needed to further reduce CHD and stroke deaths.
Between 1997 and 2006, CHD deaths fell by 32 per cent from 14,012 to 9,532, while stroke deaths fell by 45 per cent, from 9,959 to 5,479. Read more
Drug trial hope for men with prostate cancer
A new drug to fight the deadliest form of prostate cancer could put thousands of men into remission, allowing them to work and travel as before and potentially saves lives, the head of a worldwide clinical trial has announced
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jul/22/health.cancer
http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/news/news_detail.asp?id=1128
Keep Well Informed
Latest edition of the Keep Well Informed e-bulletin
Download Keep Well Informed Summer edition (pdf)
The Health of Minority Ethnic Men Living in the City of Glasgow: Identifying perceived barriers to accessing health services and potential areas for improvement in service providers/users
Research report undertaken by REACH Community Health Project
Download report (pdf)
Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies is making a new series………
Are you a teenager and worried about your health?
Are you anxious that your body is not developing like your friends?
Do you suffer from skin conditions like acne/eczema?
Have you been experimenting sexually for the first time and are worried about catching an STI?
Are you experiencing any pain or discomfort and wonder if it’s normal?
Following the success of the series ‘Embarrassing Bodies’ in April, we have been commissioned to make 4 prime-time specials focusing on teenagers. If you’re aged between 13-19 and anxious about any medical problem then we would like to hear from you. No problem is too small; from skin rashes to smelly feet, we want to help you.
If selected, your condition will be treated by professionals and you will receive top quality care. Your involvement will raise awareness about your condition, helping other sufferers to seek the treatment they need.
If you are interested, please contact Sam on: s.carty@mavericktv.co.uk or 0207 874 6672.
First Ever National Men's Health Policy
The Rudd Government will develop Australia's first ever National Men's Health Policy - in recognition of the fact that men often have poorer health than women, are likely to die earlier, and are at greater risk of suicide.
Read more
Male-only screening for aneurysms to be introduced by 2011
The first male-only screening service run by the NHS in Scotland - to spot potentially lethal abdominal aortic aneurysms - will be begin in 2011, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday.
Although the condition is not exclusive to men it is much more common than in women, and around 170 lives are expected to be saved every year as a result of being picked up in time.
Read more
Source: The Herald, 25 June 2008
MHFS National Conference 08 - 11th June 2008
Presentations and networking posters now available to view - click on the link below:
National Conference 08 presentations
National Men's Health Week
9th June - 15th June 2008
The Directory of Events 2008 is now available to dowload, click on the link below:
NMHW Directory of Events 2008 (pdf)
Men and Work Mini Manual
The booklet is a 32pge/A5 sized document and is well suited to a male audience in the now well established Haynes' format. The booklet covers information around the role of men at work; healthier eating; getting your weight down; back pain; coping with stress; stopping smoking; drinking sensibly; and when health problems develop. You can download the pdf or request a hard copy through the links below:
Download Men and Work pdf
Request a hard copy of Men and Work
New website for dads
A new website launched designed to help new fathers with parenting has been launched.
The website gives information on fatherhood; pregnancy; health; relationships and much more.
Website: http://www.dad.info/
Are you really listening? Stories about Stigma, discrimination and resilience towards mental health problems among black and minority ethnic communities in Scotland
The resource is intended to be used in 2 ways – with communities to highlight the impact of stigma and to help tackle this and also with mental health service providers to support a better understanding of the particular experiences of minority ethnic service users.
The piece of work was carried out last year in conjuction with mental health service users in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. The work was undertaken through a partnership with:
The National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health
Glasgow Association for Mental Health
Positive Mental Attitudes
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Men in Mind
Scottish Storytelling Centre
You can download the pdf below. Hard copies are available by contacting Arma Sayed email: arma.sayed@health.scot.nhs.uk
Download Are you really listening?
New feature “A day in the life of”
Do you ever wonder what it’s like in a typical working day for someone working in the field of men’s health? What is a typical day like? What motivates them? How do they cope with the challenges they face? What are the challenges? What got them interested in men’s health? Where do they see men’s health in the future?
Men’s Health Forum Scotland would like to invite you to take part or nominate someone to take part in our new feature “A day in the life of” for the Men’s Health Forum Scotland website. Working in men’s health can be challenging but at the same time rewarding knowing you have made a difference, whether it be at national or local level, to people’s lives and to the future health of men in Scotland.
The feature will be hosted on our website and distributed monthly to everyone on our mailing list. If you are interested in taking part or would like to nominate someone, please email Maureen@mhfs.org.uk or contact Maureen on 0141 550 7515.
Care and support needs of male survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Care and support needs of men who survived childhood sxual abuse is a qualitative research project using life history methodology and a life grid to explore the impact of men’s childhood experiences on their wellbeing and relationships through the life course.
You can download the interim findings through the link below:
Interim Findings
Change of Culture demands health becomes a priority
LOOKING after their health is not a huge priority for many men. But when it comes to cancer, doctors and campaigners are trying urgently to raise awareness about the importance of seeing a doctor quickly with any suspicious symptoms, rather than putting it off until it is too late. Read more
Source: The Scotsman 22/2/08
The bigger picture on suicide
A few months ago, weapons expert Dr David Kelly told a colleague he thought he would "probably be found dead in the woods" if Iraq was invaded. In the middle of July he was, suspected of killing himself, writes Anabel Unity Sale. Read more
Source: Community Care
Healthy Living can add 14 years to your life
Taking exercise, not drinking too much alcohol, eating enough fruit and vegetables and not smoking can add up to 14 years to your life, a study says.
Research involving 20,000 people over a decade found those who failed on all criteria were four times more likely to have died than those who succeeded. Read more
Source: BBC News
Targets to tackle poverty
A wide-ranging discussion on how economic growth can be harnessed to make Scotland wealthier and fairer for all was launched today.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, said the debate would go "to the heart of the kind of Scotland we want to build for the future". Read more
Source: Scottish Government
Funding to tackle obesity
An extra £40 million for health improvement initiatives, including £15 million directly targeted at obesity, was announced today.
The investment will be made available over the next three years for a series of healthy weight, health eating and physical activity programmes. Read more
Source: Scottish Government
Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour: A Systematic Review
The review was published on Friday, 11 January 2008. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the known effectiveness of interventions aimed preventing suicide, suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideation, both in key risk groups and in the general population.
The research team was led by Dr Maria Leitner (InfoTech UK Research) and Dr Wally Barr (University of Liverpool) and included academic researchers, clinicians and service user and carer advisors. Documents can be accessed via the web links below:
Full report: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/208329/0055247.pdf
Annotated bibliography: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/208351/0055248.pdf
Research Findings: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/208325/0055246.pdf
Winning the War on Heart Disease
New figures released revealed that the death rate from heart disease among under-75s dropped by 8.4 per cent in just one year.
The statistics mean that Scotland is on track to meet two key targets in the battle to lose its "sick man of Europe" title. Read more
Source: The Scotsman, Oct 2007
New Book!
Hazardous Waist: tackling male weight problems
Male weight problems are a serious public health issue and can lead to hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and cancer. If current trends continue, the prospect of the majority of men becoming overweight is a very real one, the urgent action is imperative. The middle-aged spread that most men ‘expect’ to develop as they enter into their thirties and forties is now occurring much earlier with boys and young men developing life limiting weight problems.
http://www.radcliffe-oxford.com/books/bookdetail.aspx?ISBN=1846191033
New Men's Health Section and Newsletter for EU Health Portal
The European Men's Health Forum have been askd to help develop the EU Health portal.
The addition of a men's health section is one of a number of developments to the portal including a newsletter.
Read more
Book: Ethnicity, race and health in multicultural societies
Foundation for better epidemiology, public health and health care
Most of the industrialized work now comprises of multi-ethnic societies, with people from widely varying ancestry, cultures, languages, and beliefs. With globalization of trade, increasing international travel, and migration, the whole world is destined to become multi-ethnic within the next 20 or 30 years. This poses huge challenges for doctors, nurses, public health practitioners, heatlh care managers, and policy makers who have to meet legal and policy obligations to deliver health outcomes, and provide health care of equal quality and effectiveness. Read more
Talk 2 Parents Project
Talk 2 is a new project open to all parents and carers in Glasgow. The project offers support to help parents feel prepared to talk with their children and teenagers about growing up, puberty, relationships and sexual health.
The project offers a range of practical support for parents in Glasgow City:
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Free taster sessions and short training courses
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Website
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Free resource packs mailed out to parents
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Information phone line
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Recommended Books collection in all community libraries
Talk 2 is managed by a steering group comprising key staff from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow City Council and Culture and Sport Glasgow. The project is located within the Community Learning section of the Culture and Sport Glasgow. Talk 2 is a pilot project and has been funded for three years through additional monies made available locally to implement the National Sexual Health Strategy.
A target for the project is to try and engage with an many fathers or males from all communities who have a role as an educator for children i.e. uncles, stepfathers and grandfathers. The parental consultation told us that in the majority of participating families mothers were the main educators with both daughters and sons about this topic. When fathers reported talking with their children about this topic they also reported feeling uncomfortable and less prepared than they would have liked. Many fathers felt that the support currently available was often geared more towards mothers and female carers. To read the full report click below:
Full Report
A the moment the project is trying to map out any existing fathers/male only groups, with the potential of doing groupwork or just raising awareness of services to be provided by Talk 2.
If you are interested in organising a workshop or training course for a group or would like more information, please contact Stuart Minnis, Project Worker, Tel: 0141 287 2884
Services
All of the services offered by the project can be viewed at the Talk 2 website www.talk2glasgow.com or from the project leaflet - see link below
Talk 2 Leaflet
Men's Health - How to do it?
The ‘ground-breaking’ new book ‘Men’s Health - How to do it' is based on the pioneering work of the Bradford Health of Men (HOM) project. Read more
Order form
Why this man may hold key to curing Alzheimers
Scientists hope by studying men, all from the north-east of Scotland, they may unlock clues as to how people can stave off Alzheimer's disease...
Read more
Source: Scotsman
Win when your slimming
With a belly full of pies and beer and a racing heartbeat at every sniff of a goal, the average Scot football fan is rarely a picture of heatlh.
But while hundreds of middle-aged men will find 90 minutes every Saturday to watch their beloved team, very few are prepared to spend a few minutes for a check-up with their GP.
All that could be about to change, with the possibility of free health checks at sporting events, where blood pressure, weight and cholesterol levels would all be examined.
Read more....
Source: Edinburgh Evening News (2/8/07)
Keep Well Informed
The first edition of the national Keep Well Informed e-bulletin has been produced and can be downloaded by logging on to
www.keepwellscotland.com or for printed copies, please contact Helen Hassall at helen.hassall@health.scot.nhs.uk by the end of August.
Directory of community based food and health activity
The Community Food and Health (Scotland) website offers a searchable directory containing a diversity of projects Scotland-wide, working at the local level to improve access for all to a healthy diet. As well as being a tool for any individual or organisation with an interest in local food issues, it aims to assist groups to learn from one another, share good practice, network and develop.
Source: www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk
Bowel cancer screening rolled out
Up to 150 lives could be saved each year thanks to the rollout of a national bowel cancer screening programme.
The move will see the introduction of a nationwide scheme targeting all men and women in Scotland aged between 50 and 74. When implementation is complete around 650,000 people will be issued with home test kits every year and individuals will be screened once every two years. A campaign to increase awareness is also being launched in conjuction with this announcement. Read more
Lifestyle changes and prostate cancer
Up to 73% of men with prostate cancer take nonprescription supplements, and smaller numbers use diet, exercise, or both in the hope of improving their outcome. Read more
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
19th - 25th March 2007
Real Men do something about it
During Prostate Cancer Awareness Week 2007, hundreds of individuals and groups across the UK will join forces with The Prostate Cancer Charity's Real Man campaign. Read more
The Prostate Cancer Charity launches its first Volunteering Service. Read more
New Scottish Ad Campaign Encourages Men To Look After Their Minds As Well As Their Bodies
While research shows that men are more likely thank women to keep on top of their physical fitness, many Scottish men still seem to be unaware of how to look after their minds. Good mental health is just as important as good physical health. The Scottish Executive has therefore launched a new advertising campaign to encourage men to look after their minds as well as their bodies.
WellScotland Advertising Campaign press release (20/2/07)
WellScotland Advertising Campaign Poster (A3 size) (pdf)
Keep Well: local health checks rolled out
A £10 million new wave of preventative care programmes is to go live later this year, it was announced today.
Services will be developed in south Glasgow, Aberdeen, Fife, North and East Ayrshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire. The move expands on an initial wave of programmes which was announced in October.
Keep Well services are already operating in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and North Lanarkshire. Read more
Men's testicles 'HIV hiding spot'
The French work in the American Journal of Pathology suggests the gonads provide an ideal environment for the Aids virus to replicate itself.
Evidence shows even the best antiretrovirals find it difficult to penetrate the testes. This may explain why HIV can still be found in the semen of men on drugs that successfully clear their blood of it.
Read more
Siesta 'cuts risk of heart attack'
Men could drastically cut the risk of having a heart attack by having a daily siesta, according to the largest study carried out so far on napping.
Read more
Source: telegraph.co.uk
500,000 at-risk Scots to be given heart drugs
Half of all Scottish men over the age of 40 are to be recommended drugs aimed at warding off heart disease under new guidelines published by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) on the 5th February. Read more
Source: Scotsman, Tuesday 6th February 2006
National Summit Brings People Together to Tackle Suicide in Scotland
Choose Life, Scotland's national strategy to prevent suicide, hosted its forth national summit on the 7th/8th February 2007 in Edinburgh, which brought together key people tasked with reducing Scotland's suicide rate. Read more
News release: Breathing Space launches Breathing Space Day, and online poll
Breathing space, the telephone helpline and website for people experiencing low mood and depression, is planning the first ever Breathing Space Day on 1st February, encouraging people to talk about Breathing Space out of busy, hectic lives to help take care of their mental health and well-being. Read more
Source: www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk
West Lothian Men Targeted by The Adventures of Beerhead
West Lothian Drug Action Team (DAT) launched a new alcohol health promotion resource targeting men, entitled "The Adventures of Beerhead" - 4th December 2006. For more information click here
BME Men's Health Project (funded by the Big Lottery fund and Glasgow Community Planning)
For more information contact:
REACH
Community Health Project
Network House
311 Calder Street
Govanhill
Glasgow, G42 7NQ
Tel: 0141 585 8922
Email: admin@REACHhealth.org.uk
Young Fathers Development Worker
New job oppotunity at Working with Men based in Harrow, Middlesex. Find out more
The Prostate Cancer Charity has a new Development
Manager for Scotland.
The main focus of the Scottish project, which is funded for three
years by the Big Lottery Fund, is to support older men with
prostate cancer and their carers to access support and information services so that they receive the best possible care and treatment.
If you are:
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interested in holding a session on prostate cancer, or
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holding an event at which The Prostate Cancer Charity could usefully get involved, or
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in contact with men you think would like to get involved in the project,
click here for more information including contact details. (doc)
FOOTBALL PUNDITS URGE SCOTLAND TO ‘GET TALKING’ AND SAVE LIVES
Charlie Nicholas and Scott Booth join Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald to help tackle Scotland’s hidden killer- suicide
This week is International Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week (ISPAW), click here for more details (press release - doc.)
Our Health Matters Report
Summary report on expressed health needs of prisoners serving sentences or on remand in HM Prison Barlinnie
Download a copy of the report here 
For more information or a hard copy of the report contact:
Alastair Low
Corporate Inequalities Team
GG&C NHS Board
0141 201 4817
alastair.low@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Launch of the New Vitality Index to Support Treatment Decisions for Men with Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
This is to inform you that since its origination in 2004, the Vitality Index (VI) has now been revised and modified following feedback from healthcare professionals and patients. The new edition of the VI, endorsed by the British Association of Urological Nurses (BAUN) is now being made available to healthcare professionals. The healthcare professional media will also be informed of the availability of the VI.
From diagnosis to follow-up consultations, this tool allows the specialist nurse and/or urologist, uro-oncologist specialised in prostate cancer and men with locally advanced prostate* cancer to discuss the most common side effects1 of available treatments (hormonal, surgical and radiotherapy) and their potential impact on their quality of life. The VI allows the healthcare professionals and men with locally advanced prostate cancer to jointly agree on, or review, the most appropriate treatment by clarifying quality of life preferences.
The VI is a potentially useful tool to use when we know that:
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men with locally advanced prostate cancer have a significant risk of their disease progressing, therefore when choosing a treatment option, the VI can help healthcare professionals to consider the most appropriate treatments for an individual considering his quality of life preferences
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a fifth of patients have either not discussed or not fully understood the potential pain and side effects associated with their treatment and the possible alternatives,2 therefore the VI provides a structured approach when clarifying how treatment options can impact upon their lifestyle.
The VI is provided with explanatory notes for healthcare professionals recommending how and when best to use it. Essentially there are two key steps for use with men with locally advanced prostate cancer:
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Step 1 helps the healthcare professional to explain, in simple terms, that there are different treatment options available for locally advanced prostate cancer and that each of these treatments has its own side effects and potential impact on quality of life. The most common side effects, as identified by a literature review and healthcare professionals’ feedback, are explained in a concise, patient-friendly format. Emphasis is given to the fact that treatment side effects affect men differently and may differ in how long they last and whether they disappear when a treatment is stopped.
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Step 2, involves men being asked to indicate how concerned they would be, or are, about the listed side effects affecting their quality of life. This enables men and the healthcare professional to discuss the benefits and side effects of the different treatment options and explore any concerns that they may have.
Men are advised to take away copies of Step 1 and Step 2 to reflect on, either in privacy at home, or in discussion with close friends and relatives. The healthcare professional has a notes sheet where they detail the patient’s initial answers for review with that patient at the next consultation.
For more information contact:
Isabelle Jouin at AstraZeneca UK Ltd T: 01582 836077
or:
Rosie Jacksonat RightAngle Learning T: 020 8834 1552
*cancer which has spread into the capsule of the prostate or through the prostate into the surrounding tissues - T1-2, N+,M0; T3-4, N+/0, M0
References:
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O’Connor KM, Fitzpatrick JM, Side-effects of treatments for locally advanced prostate cancer, BJU Int, 2005; 97: 22-28.
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House of Commons. Committee of Public Accounts. Twentieth Report. The NHS Cancer Plan: a progress report. 26 January 2006.
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Media Volunteer Request - Choose Life
If you have experience of suicidal thoughts or attempts and would like to help raise awareness, click here for more details (doc)
This is in relation to:
International Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week
4th-10th September 2006
Click here for advance information and local contacts for Scotland (doc)
Choose Life (Scotland's national strategy and action plan to prevent suicide)
Phone: 0141 240 2394
Email: info@chooselife.net
Web: www.chooselife.net
Call for Papers
ISMH/jmhg will publish a theme issue on Sexual Health to coincide on the occasion of the 9th ESSM congress (http://www.essm2006.org/) which will be held from 3 – 7 Dec. 2006 in Vienna.
We therefore welcome papers on any aspect of male/female sexual health to be submitted by August 20, 2006. Papers should be submitted online to http://www.ees.elsevier.com/jmhg
(Download  : Call for papers on ‘Male and Female Sexual Health’ and ‘Around the World’ Section)
Moderate Alcohol Consumption Putting Many Men At Risk Of Death
Older men who drink as few as two drinks twice a week and also have diseases that could be worsened by alcohol or cause problems with medications taken while drinking alcohol have higher death rates, as compared to men who either drink less or may drink more but don't have such comorbidities.
Examining data from a 1971-74 health survey and a follow-up survey in 1992, the researchers found that older men who drank moderately or heavily and had accompanying comorbidities that could be worsened by alcohol use such as gout or ulcer disease, or who took medications that could interact negatively with alcohol use, such as sedatives or pain medications, had 20 percent higher mortality rates than other drinkers.
The longitudinal study -- the first to examine in a large population the mortality risks inherent in alcohol use and comorbidity -- will be published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. It is available now online at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/jgs/0/0.
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
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Pedometer pilot encourages small steps approach
A primary care pedometer scheme has demonstrated that preventing obesity and improving health can be achieved by small changes in lifestyle.
The pilot - co-ordinated by voluntary organisation Paths to Health - is aimed at increasing walking levels in 'hard to reach' groups including working age men and people from deprived communities. It has been running in the NHS Board areas of Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and Arran, and Lothian.
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Strategy for an ageing population
A consultation begins today (March 14th)on how Scotland needs to adapt over the coming decades to harness the contribution and experience of older people and ensure services meet their needs.
The Executive is looking for views to feed into a Strategy for a Scotland with an Ageing Population which will be published later this year
Men dying unnecessarily - world cancer expert calls for better information and support for male breast cancer patients
National initiatives to improve information and support for men with breast cancer is vital, according to one of the world’s leading breast cancer experts.
In a paper published in today’s Lancet (February 17, 2006) Professor Ian Fentiman, of Guy’s Hospital, London, sets out the facts about male breast cancer, and calls for action to make men more aware of the disease and how to spot its symptoms. Male breast cancer currently accounts for around 1% of all breast cancer in the UK - around 250 men are diagnosed each year - but this figure is rising. The disease kills around 70 men every year in the UK.
Professor Fentiman said: “Half the men who get breast cancer in the UK are not diagnosed until their cancer is very advanced, and men are dying un-necessarily because they are unaware of the symptoms or because they are too embarrassed to seek help. If diagnosed early enough, a man with breast cancer has between 75% - 100% chance of making a full recovery, but this can drop to as low as 30% for men with very advanced disease.”
He continued: “It’s easy to think breast cancer only affects women, especially as there is so much information available about female breast cancer. As cases in men continue to rise, it is vital that we work now to improve the support and information available.”
The most common signs of male breast cancer are:
The signs can be similar to gynaecomastia, a harmless swelling under the nipple. It is very important that men who spot these signs visit their GP as soon as possible.
Peter Holton, a 50-year old banking relationship manager from Kent who is married with two children, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 after finding a pea-sized lump close to his right nipple.
After seeing Professor Fentiman at Guy’s Hospital, Peter had a full right mastectomy (removal of the breast) and had his lymph nodes removed, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He is now taking the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, but his outlook is good. “I was lucky to have my cancer detected and treated quickly, and I am glad I went to see my doctor as soon as I found the original lump. Male breast cancer isn’t something to be embarrassed about, and I would encourage all men to look out for lumps or changes to their nipples and to see their doctor straight away if they find anything unusual.
Risk factors for male breast cancer include:
- Being overweight;
- Having a high alcohol consumption;
- Working in a high temperature environment or being exposed to exhaust fumes or radiation;
- Having a close relative who has had breast cancer, especially someone with the BRCA2 gene.
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New Service for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Thrive Telephone Counselling Service
Thrive is a counselling service for male survivors of childhood sexual buse. It is based in the Sandyford Initiative, 2-6 Sandyford Place, Glasgow, G3 7NB. As part of the development of its service Thrive announces the opening of a telephone counselling service. This service will offer 40 - 45 minute counselling appointments over the telephone. The telephone is staffed by trained counsellors and is completely confidential.
Telephone 0141 211 8133 to make an appointment
The counselling service is available on:
Monday: 5.00pm – 7.00pm
Tuesday: 10.00am – 2.00pm
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Ethnic Minority Diabetes Education Service
Culturally sensitive diabetes education, which is pharmacy led, is provided to patients of an ethnic minority origin living in Lothian.
This service consists of education on the disease process, medication review as well as advice on diet and healthier lifestyles and is delivered in the most appropriate language.
Patients can be referred by any health professional using the standard referral form.
A pilot outreach 3-in-1 diabetic outreach clinic where women can access traditional therapies as well as complementary services is also part of the service.
To view a flyer for the service, click here.
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THE PROSTATE CANCER CHARITY RECEIVES WINNING AWARD FROM BIG LOTTERY FUND IN SCOTLAND
The Prostate Cancer Charity is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a three-year grant from the Big Lottery Fund to improve prostate cancer services for men across the West of Scotland.
The £153,000 grant will be used to help men, over 65, with prostate cancer, to find out about vital support and information services that are available to them so that they have access to the best possible care and treatment in AYRSHIRE and ARRAN; EAST and WEST DUMBARTONSHIRE; FALKIRK; GLASGOW; INVERCLYDE; NORTH and SOUTH LANARKSHIRE; RENFREWSHIRE and EAST RENFREWSHIRE.
The project is unique as it is the first time that the concerns of older men with prostate cancer in Scotland have been identified and addressed directly with targeted resources.
Research in September 2005 by The Prostate Cancer Charity found that men with prostate cancer find it difficult to get local support and are often reluctant to ask for the help they need. Following diagnosis, many men with prostate cancer are unclear about their treatment options and what the side effects of their treatment will be - this can be very distressing.
The project will recruit volunteers with personal experience of prostate cancer to develop community-based initiatives with local sports and social clubs, community groups and health professionals. This will help raise awareness of the disease and give men and their families one-to-one support as well as make sure they know where to find specialist services.
Lindsey Bennister, The Prostate Cancer Charity's Head of Regional Development, said: "Older men with prostate cancer in Scotland really need someone locally to help them cope with this disease - someone who understands it themselves and can help them find all the support and information they need.
"This project will reduce the isolation that many men with prostate cancer feel, and help break down some of the barriers that older men face so that they can get the best care and treatment."
The Prostate Cancer Charity, Chief Executive, John Neate said: "Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men in Scotland. Over 2,000 men are diagnosed each year and the incidence is increasing, yet there is still very little awareness of this disease in Scotland. We hope this project will put prostate cancer higher on the Scottish health agenda."
To find out more about the project visit the Charity's website: www.prostate-cancer.org.uk or contact Lindsey Bennister on 020 8222 7636.
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Young man's PSA is good cancer predictor
Research from the US suggest that maybe young men should be screened for prostate cancer rather than older ones!
Levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in young men seem to foretell their likelihood of developing prostate cancer later in life, according to th a new study in the Journal of Urology.
Dr. Alice S. Whittemore, of Stanford University School of Medicine, California, and colleagues assessed PSA levels from blood samples collected from a group of young black and white men between 1959 and 1966. The subjects, who were 34 years old on average at the time the samples were taken, were followed for several decades for prostate cancer.
The prostate cancer risk increased with increasing PSA in black and white men.
'When the men were young, their PSA levels were well within the normal range, but the men with higher (though still normal) levels had higher risk,' Whittemore said in a Reuters interview.
Specifically, for men with the highest levels compared to those with the lowest, the chances of developing prostate cancer were 4.4-times higher for black men and 3.5-times higher for white men.
There are several possible explanations for a positive relationship between PSA in young adulthood and prostate cancer risk later in life.
A direct biological reason could be that PSA in youth may increase in proportion to the number of premalignant or malignant cells in the prostate. Or, 'PSA may itself contribute to neoplastic initiation or progression in the prostate,' the researchers point out. Another possibility is that inflammation of the prostate increases PSA as well as the subsequent risk of prostate cancer.
'One might think that we should screen men at younger ages,' Whittemore noted. However, we still don't know if PSA screening saves lives,' she said.
"The disease is common in older men, yet only a tiny fraction of these cancers would cause trouble had they never been detected," she commented. Also, 'Screening carries a psychological burden, not to mention the cost.'
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Collagen shots may help men with incontinence
Injections improve short-term bladder control, researchers say
NEW YORK - For men with urinary incontinence that often follows prostate surgery, injections of collagen into the area of the urinary sphincter can improve short-term bladder control, according to a new study.
The procedure is performed via the urinary outlet, the urethra, under local anesthesia. “Collagen is suitable in patients who do not wish a more invasive option,” Dr. O. Lenaine Westney from the University of Texas Houston Health Science Center told Reuters Health.
“It is unsuitable for patients who have undergone treatments which result in tissue damage to the urethra (radiation or cryotherapy),” the investigator cautioned.
Westney and colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of collagen injection therapy for urinary incontinence after prostate removal for cancer or benign prostate enlargement in 322 men.
The treatment reduced the average number of pads required to keep dry from 5 to 3 daily, the team reports in The Journal of Urology, and the procedure remained effective for about 6 or 7 months.
“Transurethral collagen injections are a good option for short-term therapy in men with post-prostatectomy incontinence,” the researchers conclude.
“Based on our population, if there is no improvement after two to three injections, it is reasonable to assume that injectable therapy will not be a successful treatment option for the patient,” Westney commented.
More reliable treatments, which involve surgery, include an artificial urinary sphincter and placement of a “sling” to increase urine outflow resistance.
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Cancer deaths decrease
Figures out today 06/09/2005 show that more people in Scotland are living with and beating cancer.
Taking age into account, cancer mortality has decreased by 12 per cent among men in the last 10 years.
Of the cancers that cause the most mortality, the largest fall for men was in lung cancer - 27 per cent.
The number of cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) has increased between 2001 and 2002 from 25,788 to 25,999.
Health Minister Andy Kerr said:
"With some of the best treatment in the world, more and more Scots are living with and beating cancer.
"The figures out today show that while the number of new cancer cases increased between 2001 and 2002, fewer Scots are dying from the disease.
"We are on track to achieve our target of reducing premature cancer deaths by 20 per cent by 2010.
"Cancer treatment in Scotland is as good as anywhere in the world - with new drugs and state of the art radiotherapy equipment in all of our cancer centres.
"It is particularly pleasing to see the drop in lung cancer deaths among men. The biggest cancer killer among men is still lung cancer.
"We have not seen the same decrease in lung cancer rates for women. This is largely due to the greater reduction in smoking among men compared to women over the past 30 years.
" Scotland will be the first part of the UK to become completely smoke free in all enclosed public places from 26 March 2006.
"Our country's health and productivity will improve and the incidence of smoking-related diseases will fall."
But within this positive picture, the figures also highlighted the need for continued action on skin cancer. Although melanoma of the skin is only the 10th most common cancer in men, male deaths from this cancer over the last 10 years increased steeply by 31 per cent to 93 in 2004. Melanoma now accounts for 1.2 per cent of male and 0.8 per cent of female cancer deaths.
Mr Kerr said:
"It is disappointing that mortalities from malignant melanomas have increased. The numbers are low but more can be done to address this cancer.
"We know that sun exposure is a major risk factor for skin cancers including malignant melanoma even in a country with Scotland's climate
"That's why we invest in the Cancer Research UK national skin cancer prevention campaign 'SunSmart'.
"We also fund NHS Health Scotland, which has a range of materials to educate people about the dangers of skin cancer.
"Awareness raising campaigns aimed at highlighting the risk of unnecessary exposure to the sun are also being undertaken by NHS Boards across the country.
"We have invested £150 million in cancer services since 2001 and we are now beginning to see real improvements and benefits for patients.
"We have increased capacity to treat patients with cancer. There are now 300 additional staff including doctors, nurses and other health professionals delivering treatment and care across Scotland.
"In addition, we are investing £50 million over three years so that by the end of 2007 no patient waits more than nine weeks for a routine MRI or CT scan. The first fruits of this initiative - a £3 million full MRI service from Forth Valley - are already visible and there is more to come.
"Faster detection and treatment will mean that in future, even more people will be able to beat cancer."
The Executive and other UK health departments fund the Cancer Research UK annual national skin cancer prevention campaign "SunSmart". SunSmart aims to increase skin cancer awareness and methods of effective sun protection through information provision via website and printed resources for professionals to use in local health promotion. The campaign reached 76 per cent of the UK population in 2004.
The SunSmart code:
- Stay in the shade 11-3pm
- Make sure you never burn
- Always cover up
- Remember to take extra care of children
- Then use factor 15+ sunscreen
- Report mole changes or unusual skin growths promptly to your doctor
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