In a recent article published by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), the focus fell on diseases that primarily affect men, both physically and mentally.
Many of the diseases that affect men are manageable or can be prevented, if detected early. The unfortunate fact is that many men shy away from seeking medical care. Some of the reasons include the fact that men think they do not need to see a doctor, or they convince themselves that their condition will improve on its own and do not want to “bother” a doctor. Other contributing factors includes fear, superhero syndrome and the fact that “vulnerability sucks”.
June serves as a reminder for men to take an active role in both their physical and mental health, not only for themselves, but for the sake of their family as well.
Every small step counts
- Check in for medical care and book that overdue checkup
- Pay attention to your mental wellness
- Commit to healthier habits
- Learn more about common male-specific conditions
Prevention
Regular exercise and balanced nutrition are good starting points for a healthy lifestyle, however, though you might feel healthy and think everything is fine, factors like genetics, stress and underlying conditions can still affect your health. Some symptoms develop quietly and often appear when it’s too late. Proactive screening can prevent certain conditions from becoming serious health threats.
What men should know about three of the BIG C conditions that could affect them.
Male breast cancer
Yes, men do have breast tissue and can also be at risk for developing breast cancer – some types include:
- Ductal carcinoma – starts in the milk ducts and makes up the majority of male breast cancer cases
- Lobular cancer – starts as a growth of cells in the milk-producing glands, however, this type is uncommon because men’s breast tissue contains very few lobules
- Paget’s disease – primarily found in the area around the nipple, but also uncommon
Factors that increase the risk of male breast cancer include:
- Age en aged 40 to 80 are most likely to develop breast cancer
- Genetics – inherited mutations in certain genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2)
- Family history – close relatives with a history
- Radiation therapy: higher risk for men who have undergone chest radiation therapy.
- Hormone treatment: oestrogen-containing medications
- Weight – obesity or being overweight
- Alcohol – excessive use of alcohol limits the liver’s ability to regulate blood oestrogen levels
Signs and symptoms:
- Swelling of the affected breast
- Painless lump in the breast
- Inverted nipple
- Discharge or bleeding from the nipple
- Breast discomfort or pulling sensation
- Skin or nipple changes e.g. dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in one or both testicles – some types include:
- Germ cell testicular cancer – most common type (two main subtypes namely seminomas and non-seminomas)
- Leydig cell tumours – develops from Leydig cells, which are responsible for producing testosterone
- Sertoli cell tumours – normally located in the male reproductive glands.
Factors that increase the risk of testicular cancer include:
- Age – young men aged between 15 and 49 are more likely to develop testicular cancer
- Undescended testicles – abnormal testicular development, where testicles have not moved down into the scrotum before a male is born
- Family history – history of close relatives with testicular cancer or undescended testicles
- Previous diagnosis – elevates the risk of developing cancer in the opposite testicle
- HIV infection – elevates the risk of developing testicular cancer, particularly seminoma
Signs and symptoms:
- A lump of swelling in either testicle
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- Dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin
- Sudden swelling in the scrotum
- Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
- Enlarged or tenderness of breast tissue
- Back pain
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men – some types include:
- Adenocarcinoma – develops in the gland cells that produce the prostate fluid
- Urothelial Carcinoma – starts in the lining of the urethra
- Small cell carcinoma – very aggressive and develops in the small round cells of the neuroendocrine system
- Sarcomas – develop in the connective tissue of the prostate
Factors that increase the risk of prostate cancer include:
- Age – prostate cancer increases significantly with age, especially after 50
- Genetics – inherited gene changes, such as those associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2
- Family history – close relatives diagnosed before age 60
- Weight – obesity or being overweight is linked to a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer
- Diet – high-fat dairy products, high red meat diets and certain supplements
- Smoking – linked to increased risk of prostate cancer
Signs and symptoms:
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- A weak urine stream
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Painful ejaculation
- Pain in the hips, back or bones
- Fatigue
- Erectile disfunction
- Swelling in the lower body
- Numbness or weakness in the legs or feet
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs)
PMBs are defined by law. They are the minimum level of diagnosis, treatment, and care that your medical scheme must cover – and it must pay for your PMB condition/s from its risk pool in full.
Important: Always confirm the details with your medical scheme and speak to your healthcare provider about screening and treatment options available.
Male breast cancer
- Treatable breast cancer is included in the PMB regulations under diagnosis and Treatment and Pair (DTP) code 950J.
- Regardless of which benefit option a member or beneficiary is on, the medical scheme must pay for the diagnosis, treatment, and care costs of treatable breast cancer.
- Screening through a physical breast examination, consultations with doctors and other health professionals, surgery, radiology, pathology, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are included in what the medical scheme must cover.
Testicular cancer
- Treatable testicular cancer is part of the PMB regulations under the Diagnosis and Treatment Pair (DTP) code 950L.
- Regardless of which benefit option a member or beneficiary is on, the medical scheme must pay for the diagnosis, treatment, and care costs of treatable testicular cancer in line with the PMB regulations.
- Screening through a physical testicular examination, consultations with doctors and other health professionals, surgery, radiology, pathology, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are included in what the medical scheme must cover.
Prostate cancer
- Treatable prostate cancer is a PMB condition and is defined as:
- Involving the organ of origin (not spread to adjacent organs)
- No evidence of distant metastatic spread
- They have not by means of compression or obstruction of the blood supply or other means brought about irreversible or irreparable damage to the organ within which they originated (including other vital organs)
MENtal health
Men with cancer often experience significant mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and a reduced quality of life. These challenges arise from:
- Fear of the disease
- The impact of treatment
- Changes in identity or roles
- Social isolation
- Stigma
Experiencing any of the afore-mentioned feelings or thoughts might cause a breakdown and it is important for men to take care of their mental health as well.
Mental health emergencies and Designated Service Providers (DSPs)
- DSPs are healthcare providers that have agreements with medical schemes for PMB conditions.
- Mental health emergencies are covered under PMBs as emergency medical conditions.
- A 72-hour assessment is conducted to ensure the safety of the individual and those around them.
- In the initial 72-hour period, a person may use any healthcare provider without restriction as the use of a DSP does not apply.
- It is important to be aware that attempted suicide is classified as a medical emergency under PMBs and includes hospital care for up to three days or six outpatient visits.
Making a choice this June towards a holistic healthy life for yourself and your loved ones makes you a warrior!
Additional CMS resources:
Latest Share: 2/2025
Source: Council for Medical Schemes