NHS Greater Manchester raises awareness of men’s health issues

Ahead of Men’s Health Week (9^th-15^th June), NHS Greater Manchester is encouraging men and boys across the city region to take control of their physical and mental health.

The annual Men’s Health Week, aims to raise awareness about preventable health issues that disproportionately affect men, such as heart disease, mental health problems, and prostate cancer. Health bosses in the city-region are calling for the male population to learn the symptoms of the most common health issues, and to seek help and support as early as possible.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with 1 in 8 white men and 1 in 4 black men getting it. According to a study by Cancer Research UK, if it is detected early, over 80% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer today are predicted to survive for at least ten years, highlighting the importance of being aware of early signs. Symptoms to look out for include:

• An increased need to wee, often during the night
• Straining while you wee
• A feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied
• Seeing blood in urine or semen

Heart Disease

Men are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) at an earlier age than women. That’s why it’s important that men know the early warning signs of heart disease. Symptoms can include:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue or weakness
• Palpitations or irregular heartbeats
• Swelling in the legs or ankles

Mental Health

Mental health is just as important as physical health but can often get neglected, even though nationally, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50, with ¾ of deaths by suicide being men and in Greater Manchester alone we lose over 200 people a year to suicide.

While it can seem daunting, it’s so important for men to get support before they reach crisis, and there are many peer support groups across Greater Manchester.

Stephen Wilson, now 64, a dad-of-four, from Ashton-Under-Lyne, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011, and now runs support groups to help other men affected by prostate cancer and volunteers with Stockport men’s health charity, Mentell. He was recommended a PSA test by his GP, and was subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer, and has shared his story:

“I didn’t even know what a PSA test was at the time. I’d had a bit of back ache but had put that down to the job I’d been doing working in a factory helping with the 2011 census. Afterwards I found out my dad had died from prostate cancer in his 70s. I was only in my 20s when he died, and it wasn’t spoken about then it was just known as the big-C so I didn’t realise he’d had prostate cancer.

“My NHS treatment was brilliant. Everyone was nice and helpful. I had a Macmillan nurse who I could phone up and ask for advice. She put me in touch with a prostate cancer support group and the first time I went I thought I’d gone to the wrong place because everyone was laughing and joking. When I heard other people’s stories it made me feel less scared because I could see that when caught early prostate cancer wasn’t a death sentence.

“Now I speak to men about prostate cancer all the time – I was speaking to people at a car show room last week! It’s important men are aware of the symptoms and know if they are at greater risk – for example if their dad has had prostate cancer or their mum has had breast or ovarian cancer. If men are worried or have symptoms, they should always speak to their GP. It’s important for men to have people to talk to about cancer as well which might not always be their wife or girlfriend of family. It’s one of the biggest things men can go through and as men we don’t always talk enough.”