Health and Wellness

One in six black men will develop prostate cancer, but for some, preventive screenings are a cause for concern

Published

6 months ago

June 7, 2024

Getty Images

News about Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s ‘secret’ hospital stay in January 2024 made waves in the political community. Experts debated the protocol stating that a senior national security official is faraway from duty without the knowledge of the president or the general public, but there was one other factor at play. Secretary Austin received a diagnosis of prostate cancer. “This news shocked me and I know it shocked many others, especially the Black community,” he said of his diagnosis. “It was a punch in the gut.”

One in six black men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime in comparison with one in eight white men. Black men are 60% more prone to have the disease than white men and a couple of.14 times more prone to die from the disease than white men. Black men also die at higher rates low-grade prostate cancer than other breeds. These rates apply to African-Americans and men of Caribbean descent. Prostate cancer in black men could have biological characteristics related to a more aggressive disease. Research suggests that on account of inherited genetic aspects, differences in cancer biology cause cancer to progress faster in black men and/or be tougher to treat. So what do Black men do to stop this diagnosis? In many cases this just isn’t enough.

Stigmata around séances

Marlon McKnight, a 44-year-old man living in Orlando, has never had a prostate screening and is looking forward to having one. McKnight’s primary care provider told him he needed to schedule an exam sooner or later, but didn’t actually refer him for an exam. When talking about finding a doctor, McKnight recalls growing up in Jamaica, where “we go to the doctor when we’re sick.” He’s taking his time, and McKnight says he’s also sensitive around his rectum and doesn’t want anyone touching him there, irrespective of what. “Just the thought of a man behind me with his fingers inside me makes me nervous,” she admits.

“Black men especially are afraid to take the exam,” he says Brian K. McNeil, MD, MBA, FACS, chief of urology on the University Hospital of Brooklyn. “There is a lot of fear there. Fear of the unknown and fear of the results of the test. McNeil says black men are afraid of getting bad results. Questions are running through their minds, resembling: What will occur if I would like surgery or radiation? Will I actually have problems urinating? Will I actually have to wear a pad or diaper for a very long time?

“Prostate cancer, and prostate health in general, is unique in that it can be linked to masculinity,” McNeil explains. He says some may associate it with feeling like a man, masculinity and sexual function. “Anything that could impact that or impede it in any way becomes a little scary,” he adds.

Professor David B. Miller, Ph.D., MSW, MPH., Case Western Reserve University, says his tests shows that it’s an intersection of possible homophobia, identity and distrust. “So these three factors come into play,” he says. “This doctor is going to stick his finger up my ass. Why is he doing this? There’s something wrong with them. Are they doing this to me for another reason?” Miller claims that every one this mythology and conspiracies are mixed up, after which suddenly he not desires to get tested or see a doctor.

The influence of representation

Jerome Fenton, 40, of Newark, New Jersey, has no qualms about prostate screening. At the age of 30, he developed a colon infection and his doctor really useful a prostate examination at the identical time. He plans to conduct follow-up tests soon. When asked why he feels so good about this process, Fenton replies, “My grandfather died of prostate cancer around 1990. That’s why my mother at all times said, “You’re not too big or too strong to go to the doctor.” ” He said his dad had the identical approach. This is a man who will make an appointment to deal with your concerns, big and small.

Professor Miller says that when black men are raised in an environment where routine medical examinations are normal, they’ve less fear of going to the doctor. Conversely, women find out about gynecological examinations at a young age. For most men, especially black men, before a prostate exam, probably the most invasive exam they experience is a dental exam.

Fenton also believes that many black men hear mostly negative stories about prostate screening and treatment. While they might hear about someone going through treatment and coping with urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, they do not hear or see enough about how medications and screenings improve quality of life.

Lack of trust in the medical system can also be a key factor in black men’s reluctance to undergo prostate screening. Several urologists in fact, these are men of color, so the likelihood of somebody with the ability to go to a urologist who looks like them and find a way to discover culturally is low.

Keeping black men alive

The first step to getting tested for black men is to elucidate the method. What is prostate screening? In the past, this involved digital rectal examination (DRE). Your doctor will examine your rectum and examine your prostate for any lumps, lumps, or hardness, in conjunction with a blood test. “A lot of people have done research on whether the blood test itself is OK,” McNeil says. “Although many organizations still recommend using both drugs, some of the latest research shows that a blood test alone may be sufficient.”

There are screening recommendations for different age groups. Some organizations recommend that individuals ages 55 to 70 talk over with their doctor about prostate cancer screening. This is known as collaborative decision-making. You discuss it and choose whether you wish to get tested. Very Urological organizations recommend screening tests aged 50 to 70.

“If you’re in a high-risk group, you might want to have a conversation about screening at age 45,” McNeil says, “and if you’re in a very, very high-risk group, you might want to consider having that conversation at age 40.”

McNeil says your risk level is set by your age and whether you’ve gotten a member of the family who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, resembling a father, uncle, brother or cousin. “The age at which a person is diagnosed with prostate cancer matters,” he says. “You want to consider whether your relative died from complications related to prostate cancer.” Perhaps you’ve gotten a relative who was diagnosed with prostate cancer and it was a low-grade cancer who was treated, recovered, and lived a long life. But if you happen to are a member of the family who was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died that very same 12 months, it’s a completely different situation.

Studies have shown that certain genes related to other gynecological cancers could also be related to a higher risk of prostate cancer in men. Especially, BRCA one and two are related to an increased risk of prostate cancer. It is important to know your loved ones’s medical history, each in your father’s and mother’s sides.

“I discovered that this needed to be explained to black men, why they were at higher risk and the way vital it was to get this checked. It’s about explaining what which means so that they could make an informed decision,” Miller says.

And if it helps to simplify things, McNeil wants black men to keep in mind that, identical to a automotive, their body requires maintenance. Consider your urologist as a part of that maintenance. Good prostate health ensures higher peeing, uninterrupted sleep, and a satisfying sex life. And yes, it will probably keep them alive. “It’s not just about the finger,” McNeil says. “It’s about helping save lives.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Health and Wellness

Ant stings can be painful. Here’s how to avoid getting stung this summer (and what to do if it happens)

Published

4 hours ago

November 22, 2024

IAM

The starting of summer is just a couple of days away, and plenty of of us will be looking forward to long, sunny days spent on the beach, by the pool, camping or having a picnic within the park.

Insects love summer too. Most of them right then grow and feed. However, this shared appreciation of the season can sometimes lead to conflict.

Insects have long been preyed upon by many species, including birds, mammals, amphibians, and other insects. Accordingly, quite a lot of defense mechanisms have evolved – perhaps none more familiar to humans than the sting.

Many ants have a stinger on their rear end which they use to deliver venom. It will not be the sting itself that causes pain, but relatively venom. Ant venom accommodates a mix of various chemicals, a few of which have evolved specifically to manipulate the nerve endings in our skin to cause pain.

Let’s take a have a look at the several ant stings chances are you’ll experience this summer in Australia and how to respond.

Bull ants

Bull ants (also often called bulldog ants, jumper ants, or jumper ants) are large for an ant. Some species can grow to length 4 centimeters. They are easily identified by their large eyes, long mandibles (jaws), and aggressive nature.

Their sting is immediate, hot, sharp and unambiguous, similar to that of a honey bee. The intense pain will only last a couple of minutes before being replaced by redness and swelling across the sting site.

There are many differing kinds of bull ants in Australia.
Sam Robinson

Green-headed ants

Green-headed ants are also called green ants (but not to be confused with green ants). green tree ants northern Australia, which do not sting). Green-headed ants are common and love our lawns.

About Length 6 millimetersthey’re much smaller than bull ants. They can be recognized by their shiny green-purple exoskeleton.

Green-headed ants are frequently less aggressive than bull ants, but they can still deliver a big sting. The pain from a green ant sting can construct up step by step and cause intense, sticky pain.

Fire ants

Fire ants (or imported red fire ants) are native to South America. They were detected first in Brisbane in 2001it probably moved in containers and has since spread across south-east Queensland.

Fire ants are reddish brown and black and range in size from Length 2–6 millimeters.

You will almost certainly encounter fire ants of their nests, which appear like a pile of loose dirt. A hearth ant nest has no obvious entrance, which is way to distinguish it from other similar ant nests.

Disturbing a hearth ant nest will awaken an offended mass of a whole bunch of ants and expose you to being stung.

The initial pain from a single sting seems like an intense, hot itch, although it can be controlled. However, fire ant stings rarely occur in the only digits. One ant can sting multiple times, and plenty of ants can sting one person, which can lead to a whole bunch of stings. A hearth ant sting can cause pus-filled ulcers and scarring in the next days.

If you reside in an area where fire ants are present, it’s price taking a couple of minutes to learn how to do this recognize and report their.

Electric ants

Electric ants is one other nasty random import, coming from Central and South America. Currently limited to Cairns and surroundingsthese are tiny (1.5 millimeters long) yellow ants.

Like fire ants, these ants are frequently defensive, so lots of them will sting without delay. Their sting is more painful than you’ll expect from such a tiny creature. I compare it to being showered with red, hot sparks.

If you think that you see electric ants, please report it Biosecurity in Queensland.

Australian ants should not the worst

You may be surprised to hear that Australian ants don’t even make it to the rostrum when it comes to essentially the most painful ant stings. The winners include: harvester ants (North and South America), which cause severe, sticky pain, comparable to a drill slowly rotating in a muscle – for up to 12 hours.

The gold medal goes to the sting of the South and Central American bullet ant, which has been described How:

Pure, intense, sensible pain. It’s like walking on burning charcoal with a 3-inch nail stuck in your heel.

How to avoid getting stung (and what to do if you do)

Fortunately, the answer is frequently quite simple. Look around before you sit on the bottom or unfolded a picnic blanket, avoiding places where you see ant nests or a lot of foraging ants.

The selection of footwear might also be necessary. In my experience, most stings occur on the feet of those wearing thongs.

If you get stung, generally the situation will improve by itself. The pain often subsides after a couple of minutes (sometimes slightly longer within the case of a green ant sting). The redness, swelling and itching that sometimes follows may last for several days.

In the meantime, if mandatory, ice pack it will help with the pain. If it’s particularly bad, a topical numbing cream containing lidocaine may provide temporary relief. You can get it over-the-counter at a pharmacy.

A small proportion of individuals may experience an allergic response to ant stings. In very severe cases this may include respiratory problems or ingestion. If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms after an ant sting, you need to seek urgent medical attention.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

Health and Wellness

Health matters: WNBA star Napheesa Collier on her commitment to women’s reproductive health

Published

11 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Minnesota lynx

Napheesa Collier will not be only a WNBA superstar for the Minnesota Lynx and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, but additionally the mother of her daughter Mila and an advocate for women’s reproductive health rights.

It recently decided to partner with Opill®, the primary and only every day contraceptive pill available over-the-counter within the United States. This breakthrough represents a major step forward in women’s health care by providing a convenient and accessible contraceptive option. With Opill, women not need to visit health care facilities for prescriptions, making it easier than ever to take control of their reproductive health.

The collaboration relies on Opill®’s long-standing partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). “One of the reasons Opill® partnered with the WNBA is the great passion of players who use their platform to support causes they believe in,” said Leila Bahbah, leading women’s health brand at Perrigo within the US. “Napheesa exudes this passion, and together we plan to educate and empower people to take control of their reproductive health.”

Collier advocates for girls and says she is willing to have conversations, even in the event that they are difficult. “I just truly believe in everything they do at Opill®. I believe it’s important to talk to people who may become pregnant and to women about the reproductive health and contraceptive options available to them,” Collier tells ESSENCE.

He continues: “I want people to know that if they want contraception, Opill® is a great option. It is the first over-the-counter drug approved by the FDA. It is inexpensive, available. You don’t need a prescription to get it. I think that’s a key thing in today’s climate.”

Collier notes that within the off-season, he tries to travel to various colleges to talk to students about their reproductive freedoms. “Talking about this topic is essential to remove the stigma as it should not be considered a shameful topic or something that should not be discussed openly. My mother was a nurse, so it was casual to talk about it in our house, and I want to pass it on to other people too, so I’m very excited about it,” she says.

In the present political climate, many ladies with daughters are concerned about their future and reproductive health. Collier, included. “Especially because I am the mother of a young girl, it is very important to me to be able to raise her in an atmosphere where she knows her reproductive rights and health, that she has access to affordable health care and contraception if she wants it and that she can ask me these questions and have open conversations.”

Collier continues: “It’s back to education. Again, I think it’s harmful that we can’t have open conversations about birth control and other issues that are usually taboo. I think it’s harmful. I think this does a lot of harm to women. It hurts. This is harmful to our society. Being able to talk about these issues and empowering women to learn about their rights and bodies creates a safer and healthier society.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

Health and Wellness

Yes, despite what you’ve heard on TikTok, you still need to use sunscreen

Published

11 hours ago

November 21, 2024

IAM

Summer is nearly here. But as an alternative of using sunscreen, some TikTokers just do that encouraging followers throw it away and forgo sunscreen.

They argue that it’s healthier to forgo sunscreen to get the complete advantages of the sun.

Here’s what the science really says.

How does sunscreen work?

Due to the acute UV environment in Australia, most individuals with pale to olive skin or other risk aspects for skin cancer must accomplish that protect yourself. Applying sunscreen is a key approach to protecting areas that aren’t easily covered by clothing.

Sunscreens work by absorbing or scattering UV rays before they reach the skin and damage DNA or supporting structures corresponding to collagen.

In this photo I (Katie) apply sunscreen only to the appropriate side of my face. Sunscreens absorb and scatter UV light (right side), although it can’t be seen with the naked eye (left side). The photo on the appropriate also shows where sun spots (dark spots) accumulate on my skin and where I do not care to apply sunscreen evenly – under the attention, on the cheek and completely missing the ear.
The creator provided/UQ

When UV molecules hit DNA, the surplus energy can damage our DNA. This damage might be repaired, but when the cell divides before the error is repaired, it causes a mutation that may lead to skin cancer.

The energy of the UV particle (photon) causes the DNA strands to break and reconnect incorrectly. This causes a tumor within the DNA strand, which makes accurate copying difficult and might introduce mutations.
NASA/David Herring

The most typical skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Melanoma is less common but most definitely spreads throughout the body; this process known as metastasis.

Two against three At least the Australians will one skin cancer during their lives they usually reconcile 80% all cancers in Australia.

About 99% of skin cancers in Australia are attributable to overexposure to UV radiation.

Excessive exposure to UV radiation also affects the looks of the skin. UVA rays are able to penetrate deep into the skin, where they break down supporting structures corresponding to elastin and collagen.

This causes signs premature agingcorresponding to deep wrinkles, brown or white spots and broken capillaries.

Sunscreen may also help prevent skin cancer

Consistently used sunscreen reduces the danger of skin cancer and slows skin aging.

In Queensland studyparticipants either used sunscreen day by day for nearly five years or continued their usual use.

After five years, the danger of squamous cell cancer was reduced within the day by day group 40% compared to the second group.

Ten years later, the danger of developing invasive melanoma was reduced within the group of individuals taking the drug day by day 73%

Do sunscreens block the health-promoting properties of sunlight?

The answer is a little more complicated and involves a personalised risk-benefit trade-off.

First, the excellent news: spending time within the sun has many health advantages don’t rely under the influence of UV radiation and aren’t affected by the use of sunscreens.

A woman applies sunscreen — Sunscreens only filter out UV rays, not all light.
Ron Lach/Pexels

Sunscreens only filter UV rays, not visible light or infrared light (which we feel as heat). Importantly, a number of the advantages of sunlight are obtained through Eyes.

Visible light improves mood and regulates and possibly reduces circadian rhythm (which influences the sleep-wake cycle). myopia (myopia) in children.

Infrared light is being researched as a treatment for several conditions skin, neurological, psychiatric AND autoimmune disorders.

So what is the good thing about exposing your skin to UV radiation?

Sun exposure produces vitamin D, which is crucial for healthy bones and muscles.

Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common amongst Australians, peaking in Victoria at 49% in winter and lowest in Queensland at 6% in summer.

Fortunately, individuals who deal with sun protection can avoid vitamin D deficiency taking a complement.

Skin exposure to UV radiation could have advantages independent of vitamin D production, but these haven’t been proven. It may reduce the danger of autoimmune diseases corresponding to multiple sclerosis or cause the discharge of a chemical that may lower blood pressure. However, there aren’t enough details about these advantages to say whether sunscreen can be an issue.

What does this mean for you?

Exposure of the skin to UV radiation may provide some advantages that could be blunted by sunscreens. This determines whether it’s value giving up these advantages to avoid skin cancer how susceptible you have skin cancer.

If you have pale skin or other aspects that increase your risk of skin cancer, try to use sunscreen day by day on all days when the forecast UV index reaches 3.

If you have darker skin that rarely or never burns, you might want to skip using sunscreen on daily basis – although you’ll still need protection when you’re outdoors for prolonged periods of time.

For now, the balance of evidence suggests that it is healthier for people susceptible to skin cancer to proceed using sunscreen, supplementing with vitamin D as needed.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com