Mens Wellbeing - ACT Specific Sites

Mens Health ACT Government point of access to full listing of relevant health services for men

Prostate Cancer Support Group - ACT Region Inc The group started in 1997 and comprises men who are survivors of prostate cancer and their partners. While members of the group do not provide medical advice they can help the newly diagnosed man, his partner and those concerned for his welfare to understand the treatment options available and how these options can be accessed. They can also provide perspectives on what may lie ahead after treatment has been undertaken. Views and information from our members can be obtained through attendance at one of our monthly meetings or by contacting individual members.

Informal monthly meetings at which about 25 to 30 people attend are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month except in December. Membership is free and open to all. At meetings the exchange of information and provision of advice and support occurs through presentations, discussions and networking.

In the ACT and southern NSW region the group is active in promoting awareness about detection and treatment of prostate cancer. This is achieved through a range of activities including addresses to work groups and associations, information stalls at community and other events and advocacy on behalf of those affected by this highly prevalent disease. We maintain a library of print and audiovisual materials and send a monthly newsletter via email to over 100 people in the ACT and NSW. Details about the group, its activities and contact persons are available on its web site

A Healthy Prostate. Isn't It Time to Put Your Prostate First? Check out this Oz site. They have an nice 5 point plan to keep your prostate healthy

DVE Good Health Newsletter on prostate health; DVE Good Health Newsletter on back pain and some natural relief options

U.S. Panel Says No to Prostate Screening for Healthy Men One has to be totally dumbfounded by the decision of this US government health panel

Dr Ian Sykes Men's Health Session 27th Nov 2009 Ian provided the following key messages for us older folks to enjoy a long and healthy life style:

• Don't smoke – ever!
• Make sure you have a good healthy breakfast
• Exercise moderately – twice a week is enough
• Maintain normal weight
• Drink moderately - maximum 4 standards drink for men, 3 for women per day
• Get 8 hours sleep a day
• Exercise the brain as you get older – the key message is ‘use it or lose it’!
• Keep your cholesterol levels under control - between 4.5 and 5.0 mmol per/L is normal. [CSIRO says if your cholesterol level is 6.5 mmol/L or greater your risk of heart disease is about four times greater than that of a person with a cholesterol level of 4 mmol/L]
• Maximum blood pressure levels before doing anything should not exceed 145/90
• Increase your health awareness and undertake regular annual check-ups

Dr Ian Sykes Men's Health Session 7th Oct 2011 Well, we are now more enlightened about our personal health and the things to watch out for as on 7th Oct we enjoyed hearing from Ian about a range of health concerns, in particular the "bad" and indeed the "good" aspects of Cholesterol in our system. Ian focussed on Cholesterol in our lives, stressing the importance of its role. While it is important to control the level of 'bad' cholesterol in our system, in itself it is essential for correct bodily function. Produced in the liver, Cholesterol performs just some of the following vital functions;

• Helps strengthen, build and maintain cell membranes transported in blood plasma;
• Assists correctly functioning nerve cells, cell signalling and nerve conduction;
• Is the basis of essential steroid hormones e.g. oestrogen, testosterone and adrenaline;
• Synthesises vital Vitamin D (essential); and
• Helps in the production of Bile acids (hence aiding solubilising fats in the digestive tract)
  

Ian explained that high levels of cholesterol in the blood can damage arteries and are potentially linked to such things as heart disease. However, Ian expressed his personal opinion that "the jury" is still out as to the long-term implications of lowering cholesterol beyond normal ranges, particularly in those people who may be candidates for, or have already suffered heart disease or attacks.

There are several basic ways that may help reduce high cholesterol readings, including dietary modification (using low-saturated fat products), exercise and medication etc. It's best to use appropriate low fat margarines (e.g. pro-Active) and grill foods rather than fry them. Limit cheese and sugar. If using oils use the poly-unsaturated ones. Ian made the point that, as in all things, it is important that when eating, do so in moderation and be sensible in having a balanced diet (along with the odd "baddie" – but! in moderation!).

We were able to assess our predisposition to cholesterol related issues from a chart provided by Ian, according to various factors within specified age ranges. This chart is the NZ Cardiovascular Risk Calculator from the NPS Ltd. This has recently been updated and a link is here. The first reference provides a new Australian based risk chart. He also advised that the total cholesterol readings (HDL+LDL)/HDL should be 4 or less to be in the lower risk areas.

We also need to get at least 20 mins of sunshine every day to ensure we have adequate Vitamin D levels

Ian also affirmed and supporting a call by John Burrowes to consider going on the Organ Donor register, and briefly related some personal experience and the potentially-life saving and life-giving benefits of organ donation for donees and their families. He also encouraged us to donate our bodies to help others as well as allow for research. This can be done through the Donate Life organisation Donate Life in ACT (Canberra Hospital)

Ian was a very welcome guest on this his second trip to the Shed and we thank him for sharing with us once again. Thanks also go to Keith Sinderberry for organising this fascinating session.

ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) is a 5 year primary prevention clinical trial aimed at assessing whether daily treatment of aspirin prolongs healthy lifespan through the prevention of heart attack, stroke, cognitive decline, physical decline and some cancers such as bowel cancer. The study will investigate whether aspirin prolongs healthy lifespan. The benefits of aspirin will be weighed against the risk of bleeding.

ASPREE participants (following an initial Baseline and Enrolment phase) will have Annual Visits for 5 years. These visits will assess the health and well-being of participants and in addition cognitive function, an area that has largely been ignored in previous studies of aspirin. ASPREE is a randomised trial, meaning participants are randomly allocated to a type of treatment, either aspirin or a placebo. A placebo is an inactive, harmless substance containing no medication.
Men and women are eligible to take part of this study if they are aged 70 years or over and are able to attend their usual GP. Unfortunately people cannot take part in this trial if they have blood vessel disease, have a serious illness, are already taking aspirin, are allergic to it or cannot take it, have had or are at risk of serious bleeding or are taking other 'blood thinning' medication.

If you would like to volunteer for this evaluation then call Karen Gravenmaker at the Clinical Trial Unit at Canberra Hospital on 6244.3687. For further information

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