METABOLIC SYNDROME
WHAT IS IT? This is due to several conditions that occur at the same time: high blood pressure, high levels of sugar and fat in the blood, and obesity. “This is a silent disease with non-specific or no symptoms, therefore it can be present for a long time without your man knowing he has it,” says Dr Gilbert Yeo, assistant medical director at Parkway Shenton.
“It’s collectively known as metabolic syndrome, but having just one of these conditions doesn’t mean that one has metabolic syndrome. However, any of these conditions increases the risk of serious disease. If more than one of these conditions occurs in combination, the risk is even greater.”
Long-term complications can affect the eyes, heart, kidneys and nerves, and can cause stroke. An unhealthy lifestyle – that is, a lack of exercise and an excess intake of calories – is usually the cause behind metabolic syndrome.
WHEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? When he turns 40.
WHAT TESTS WILL HE HAVE TO TAKE? Body Mass Index measurement will test for obesity; a blood pressure measurement will test for high blood pressure; a fasting blood glucose test will check for diabetes; and a fasting blood cholesterol test will check for high blood cholesterol.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? Yearly for obesity; two years or more as advised by his doctor for high blood pressure; and three years or more as advised by his doctor for high blood cholesterol.
GOUT
WHAT IS IT? This usually affects those with metabolic syndrome, says Dr Yeo. It causes sudden painful swelling around the joint of the big toes, the ankles, and occasionally the knees. High uric acid is the culprit – the crystals are deposited in the joints, causing the inflammation. Recurrent attacks can cause deformity of the joints and deposition of nodules over the limbs, Dr Yeo adds.
WHEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? On the initial painful attack and swelling of his big toe.
WHAT TESTS WILL HE HAVE TO TAKE? His uric acid levels will be checked.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? Check with the doctor.
COLORECTAL CANCER
WHAT IS IT? According to the Singapore Cancer Registry, the cancer of the large intestine is the most common cancer among men in Singapore. “Most cases of colorectal cancer begin as small, non-cancerous growths attached to the wall of the colon,” says Dr Yeo. “These cause no symptoms until the growths are big and begin to cause a change in bowel habits. Early screening detects the presence of small amounts of blood in the stools from the growths.”
WHEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? Once he turns 50.
WHAT TESTS WILL HE HAVE TO TAKE? A FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) will check for blood in stools.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? Yearly.
PROSTATE CANCER
WHAT IS IT?“The chief function of the prostate gland is the production of seminal fluid for the transportation of sperm,” says Dr Fong Yan Kit, a consultant urologist from Raffles Hospital. “It is a small walnut-shaped gland that surrounds the beginning of the urethra, and it's located just beneath the bladder, behind the pubic bone and in front of the rectum. Cancer cells can affect the prostate gland, resulting in prostate cancer.”
According to the Singapore Cancer Registry, this is now the third most common male cancer in Singapore. The rising incidence could be due to changes in dietary habits (higher intake of animal fat), an increase in the lifespan of Singaporean men, and the more prevalent use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as tumour markers.
WHEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? Once he turns 50, says Dr Yeo.
WHAT TESTS WILL HE HAVE TO TAKE? If there are any suspicions of prostate cancer, or your hubby or dad is worried about prostate cancer, the doctor can first do a digital rectal examination to check for any hard or suspicious nodules. Subsequently, he may undergo a PSA test. The simple blood test can detect if there are elevated levels of PSA (more than 4 ug/L), which may indicate prostate cancer, though it could be due to another condition that’s benign.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? PSA is not a standard screening test in most countries, including Singapore, says Dr Fong. Most doctors would advise patients above 50 years of age to undergo PSA testing if they have urinary symptoms, a family history of prostate cancer, or if they are worried about prostate cancer.
HEPATITIS B AND C
WHAT IS IT? Both are viral infections, which can lead to chronic liver disease and subsequently, liver cancer, says Dr Yeo. These viruses are transmitted via blood contact, unprotected sex, unsterile needles, and from an infected mother to her newborn. Those who are at risk of such exposure should be screened. Only hepatitis B has a vaccine, whereas there is none for hepatitis C.
WHEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? Any age, especially if he is sexually active.
WHAT TESTS WILL HE HAVE TO TAKE? Hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C antibody test.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD HE GET SCREENED? Check with the doctor.
This article was originally published in Simply Her February 2015.