Hepatitis C, Liver Cancer and Men
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Men develop liver cancer at twice the rate of women in the United States. In other countries, especially in Asia, the rate for men can be eight or 10 times that for women.
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HBV : Sex hormone explains men’s higher liver cancer risk/2010
HBV : Sex hormone explains men’s higher liver cancer risk/2010
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Why Liver Cancer Is More Prevalent In Males Than In Females
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Production of a protein that promotes inflammation appears to be linked to the higher incidence of liver cancer in men than in women, researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine have determined in mouse studies. Their discovery that female mice produce far less of the protein called interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to liver injury than males do, and that production of this protein is suppressed by estrogen, may point the way to therapies to reduce the incidence of liver cancer in males. IL-6 contributes to the chronic liver inflammation that leads to cancer.
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The research team was led by Michael Karin, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology in UCSD's Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction. The findings will be published in the July 6 issue of the journal Science.
"Males show a higher rate of inflammation than females in the same diseases, including cancer," said Willscott Naugler, M.D., clinical instructor in UCSD's Department of Medicine and first author of the paper. "We wondered if increased inflammation was behind the higher incidence of liver cancer in males and, if so, how and why?"
Heptocellular carcinoma (HCC) -- a devastating complication of chronic liver disease and inflammation caused by risk factors such as hepatitis B and C viruses, or alcoholic liver disease -- makes up the majority of liver cancers in humans. Overall, men are three to five times more likely to develop HCC than women; however, in individuals who are under 50, HCC is seen seven to 10 times more frequently in men.
"Males show a higher rate of inflammation than females in the same diseases, including cancer," said Willscott Naugler, M.D., clinical instructor in UCSD's Department of Medicine and first author of the paper. "We wondered if increased inflammation was behind the higher incidence of liver cancer in males and, if so, how and why?"
Heptocellular carcinoma (HCC) -- a devastating complication of chronic liver disease and inflammation caused by risk factors such as hepatitis B and C viruses, or alcoholic liver disease -- makes up the majority of liver cancers in humans. Overall, men are three to five times more likely to develop HCC than women; however, in individuals who are under 50, HCC is seen seven to 10 times more frequently in men.
Full Article/2007
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What are Symptoms of Liver Cancer in Men
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Liver cancer symptoms are mostly asymptomatic during the early stages. The liver cancer symptoms in men begin to appear slowly as the disease progresses. If these signs and symptoms of liver cancer in men are overlooked, the disease can progress to an advanced stage that becomes very difficult to treat.
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Let us now see what are symptoms of liver cancer in men
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Erectile Problems : Men who suffer from cancers that affect their abdominal area may suffer from erectile dysfunction. This is because their genitals are very delicate and sensitive. Any disorder or change in biochemical level of the body may cause erectile problems. There are many changes occurring the man's body suffering from liver cancer. These changes cause erectile dysfunction in men with liver cancer. However, not every erectile dysfunction points to liver cancer. Get yourself examined to find out the underlying cause of this problem other than liver cancer.
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Breast Enlargement
This may sound a bit weird, but one of the liver cancer symptoms in men is enlargement of breast. This means the breasts increase in size and are beyond the size of normal swelling. Many men often have their breast size increase to the size of a woman's breast. Their breasts become tender and are painful to touch. This is a very rare symptom that is not seen in many other disorders. Therefore, if a man experiences breast enlargement he should get himself examined for liver cancer.
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Bloody Urine
One of the signs and symptoms of liver cancer in men is blood in urine. This is an indication of problems in liver, testicular cancer or prostate cancer as well. The liver gets filled with blood when the liver cells become cancerous. This causes the blood to flow out thrown the urinary system and thus observed in urine. If a man experiences this symptom, he needs to seek medical advice.Swollen TesticlesSwollen testicles are a common symptom of cancer in men. Sometimes the cancerous cells from liver may spread to the testicles leading to swellings or lumps in the testicles. Most of the time, these lumps are painless. This causes men to ignore this symptom and overlook the medical time bomb in their liver.
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Men and Hepatitis C
,Men and women have different experiences in many aspects of their health, from life expectancy and the types of illnesses they will develop, to the number of visits they make to their GP.
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Generalisations about men’s health include such things as: men take less care of their health; men take more risks in life; and men are less willing to visit health professionals.
Generalisations about men’s health include such things as: men take less care of their health; men take more risks in life; and men are less willing to visit health professionals.
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Like all generalisations, they are not entirely true, and don’t consider many other factors affecting health, but doconta in some important truths about men’s health.
Like all generalisations, they are not entirely true, and don’t consider many other factors affecting health, but doconta in some important truths about men’s health.
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There are more men than women with hep C, and their health outcomes tend to be less favourable – there are many reasons for this,which include transmission, progression and treatment of hep C.
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Hep C affects men and women differently
Hep C affects men and women differently
Men use injecting drugs more than women, and it is generally accepted that men are involved in more risky behaviours; these are some of the known reasons why men more so than women develop chronic hep C. What is less well understood is the way in which men are more susceptible than women to hep C infection. Some people are able to combat initial hep C infection and avoid progressing to chronic hep C; women are more likely to achieve this than men.
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Liver fibrosis occurs faster and more frequently in men, and they also experience more long-term liver damage. Men who have cirrhosis are five times more likely to develop liver cancer than women who have cirrhosis.
Men typically consume more alcohol than women; this goes some way to explaining why men have more liver problems, but it is not the whole story.
Men typically consume more alcohol than women; this goes some way to explaining why men have more liver problems, but it is not the whole story.
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Jacob George, Professorof Gastroenterology and Hepatic Medicine at the University of Sydney, says that hormona ldifferences between men and women may be part of the reason for liver fibrosis occurring faster in men, and for the greater incidence of liver cancer in men.
Jacob George, Professorof Gastroenterology and Hepatic Medicine at the University of Sydney, says that hormona ldifferences between men and women may be part of the reason for liver fibrosis occurring faster in men, and for the greater incidence of liver cancer in men.
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What are the barriers to men seeking treatment?
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Evidence has shown that men are less likely than women to seek medical treatment in most circumstances. There are no simple explanations for this; but, as reported in the AustralianGovernment Department of Health and Ageing information paper Development of a National Men’s Health Policy 2008, men attend GPs less frequently, after being unwell for longer periods,and they have shorter, less in-depth consultations.These barriers to men being tested for hep C also affect their access to treatment.
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Evidence has shown that men are less likely than women to seek medical treatment in most circumstances. There are no simple explanations for this; but, as reported in the AustralianGovernment Department of Health and Ageing information paper Development of a National Men’s Health Policy 2008, men attend GPs less frequently, after being unwell for longer periods,and they have shorter, less in-depth consultations.These barriers to men being tested for hep C also affect their access to treatment.
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Not being able to work while on treatment is a real fear for a lot of people. In cases where a man is the major income earner in a household, this is a very large consideration. Given that there is no certainty of clearing hep C, men may think twice when making decisions about treatment.
Not being able to work while on treatment is a real fear for a lot of people. In cases where a man is the major income earner in a household, this is a very large consideration. Given that there is no certainty of clearing hep C, men may think twice when making decisions about treatment.
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Video Boceprevir Telaprevir
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Treatment Side Effects From Standard HCV Therapy
Treatment Side Effects From Standard HCV Therapy
“The potential loss of hair is something men just don’t like to face. Many men will also fear a loss of libido on treatment,” he says. “Doing treatment means explaining how you got hep C to those close to you, and especially your mates.”Professor George adds that men sometimes have a more chaotic lifestyle, and more psychiatric problems such as schizophrenia and depression; in some cases this may be a result of long-term drug use. These issues make it harder to access treatment, as well as making hep C treatment less of a priority.
Understanding that early detection can improvelong-term prognosis may encourage men to be tested; this is especially relevant where men think they may have been exposed to hep C but have no symptoms. Barriers to testing can also be broken down if men understand that treatment is readily available, and will be given without judgement. If they know exactly where to go for treatment and how to approach it, they are probably more likely to pursue a treatment program – and the fewer steps involved, the better.
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Women respond to combination treatment for hep C better than men do, and have a higher clearance rate; this can make adherence more difficult for men.
Men who are suffering badly from side effects may be more likely to stop treatment when they consider they may have a smaller chance of clearing their hep C. Health professionals who understand men’s issues and provide appropriate support are vital to improving outcomes for men with hep C.
Women respond to combination treatment for hep C better than men do, and have a higher clearance rate; this can make adherence more difficult for men.
Men who are suffering badly from side effects may be more likely to stop treatment when they consider they may have a smaller chance of clearing their hep C. Health professionals who understand men’s issues and provide appropriate support are vital to improving outcomes for men with hep C.
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Some men may be more likely to consider treatment if they can see examples of others who have successfully completed treatment. Professor George points out that most men donot lose their jobs and are able to continue working throughout treatment. He believes that men would be more open to treatment if they could clearly see the benefits of clearing hep C. Some men may feel that hep C is something they just have to live with, or that the negatives of treatment out weigh the positives of clearance; exploring these issues further may help to highlight the importance of treatment.Putting the side effects of treatment into context with some of the long-term symptoms of chronic hep C may help; for example, men who are worried about experiencing sexual dysfunction while on treatment may not beaware that impotence is a common symptom in men with advanced cirrhosis.
Some men may be more likely to consider treatment if they can see examples of others who have successfully completed treatment. Professor George points out that most men donot lose their jobs and are able to continue working throughout treatment. He believes that men would be more open to treatment if they could clearly see the benefits of clearing hep C. Some men may feel that hep C is something they just have to live with, or that the negatives of treatment out weigh the positives of clearance; exploring these issues further may help to highlight the importance of treatment.Putting the side effects of treatment into context with some of the long-term symptoms of chronic hep C may help; for example, men who are worried about experiencing sexual dysfunction while on treatment may not beaware that impotence is a common symptom in men with advanced cirrhosis.
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There is a gap between providing treatment resources and making these resources easily accessible; targeting hep C treatment information to men would help close this gap. Men use health services less than women do, but this cannot be solely attributed to men’s attitudes towards their health. Development of a National Men’s Health Policy 2008 shows that men do respond to health messages aimed at them, and services that target men and present themselves as accessible are well utilised.
There is a gap between providing treatment resources and making these resources easily accessible; targeting hep C treatment information to men would help close this gap. Men use health services less than women do, but this cannot be solely attributed to men’s attitudes towards their health. Development of a National Men’s Health Policy 2008 shows that men do respond to health messages aimed at them, and services that target men and present themselves as accessible are well utilised.
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• Adrian Rigg is a freelance health writer who
• Adrian Rigg is a freelance health writer who
writes for The Hep Review:
See Full Article : http://www.hepc.org.au/documents/articles/HepCandMen-300KB.pdf
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