Eclipsed by the Prostate: Expanding Testicular Cancer Scholarship Through Years of Potential Life Lost and Economic Productivity

Abstract

Men’s health has been generalized as prostate cancer (PCa) with a supporting cast of other health issues, such as testicular cancer (TCa). As a result, research and scholarship in these supporting topical areas may not receive appropriate attention.This may possibly lead to disease burden indicators failing to comprehensively assess overall affect from a specific outcome within the population. The following commentary provides an example of years of potential life lost (YPLL) and economic productivity as it relates to TCa to encourage diversity in male health research and scholarship topical areas. Overall incidence and mortality rates overwhelmingly support a disparate burden from PCa as compared to other male-specific outcomes, specifically, TCa. When factoring in YPLL and lost economic activity as a result of early death, that disparity essentially dissipates. This discussion will provide an alternative disposition on how males are affected by PCa and TCa. Although PCa has much larger mortality and incidence rates compared to TCa, the amount of life a man potentially loses (nearly quadrupled) if he would die of TCa as compared to PCa assists in balancing out the disparate aforementioned burden. Suggestions are offered to encourage scholarship attention equity as well as implications for future research in the field.

Practical Strategies for Improving Men’s Health: Maximizing the Patient-Provider Encounter

“…A final consideration in improving men's access and sustained quality engagement in the healthcare system is truly respecting the potential issues created when engagement requires a man to be vulnerable, as this often runs contrary to masculine ideology and sociocultural norms. 3,19,22,23 Rapport-building, empathy, and trust are essential in most relationships, but perhaps even more so in the patient-provider dynamic. 24 The latter builds on findings suggesting men are less willing to be vulnerable with an HCP due to perceived fears of embarrassing and/or invasive procedures, fear of healthcare professionals reaction to their lifestyle choices and practices, fear of receiving bad news, and fear of receiving a controversial diagnosis that would incite criticism from close family, friends, or their partners.…”

“…The issue of perceived vulnerability and trust is heightened in men of color and has persisted for decades. 27,28 Addis and Mahalik 19 and Connell and Messerschmidt 22 noted how men's perception and endorsement of masculinity and masculine gender role norms (i.e., hegemonic masculinity) also create less opportunity to engage in healthcare and help-seeking. Providers need to be acutely aware of the possible barriers to men seeking help and accessing preventative healthcare to embed responsive best practices into this healthcare dynamic.…”

“…Holding a health fair or taking clinics to remote places where men are known to congregate, such as college campuses, youth programs, barbershops, sporting events, job training sites, local mosques, homeless shelters, soccer clubs, bars, dance clubs, and through mobile units, also likely will encourage participation. 22,26,[30][31][32] Fear of receiving bad news, being judged by a HCP, perceived or actual negative reactions from family and/or friends, and fear of what their partner may think also are interpersonal barriers that clinicians caring for men need to be ready to navigate. 26 This calls into question how we socialize males in the health care system and emphasize education via coping strategies, cultivating support systems, and discussion/training on how to explain what is going on to support systems.…”

Carcinoma oral de células escamosas e anos potenciais de vida perdidos: panorama no estado do Pará

“…É válido e muito importante em determinados casos ser aplicado índices que permita essa visão mais social de uma determinada doença, fugindo um pouco da individualidade da mesma e contrariando sua quantificação isolada, como por exemplo, relativizar os óbitos de uma doença com a carga econômica que ela impactará. A perda de anos potenciais de vida pode estar relacionando com o tempo de trabalho perdido e o ano de aposentadoria, expondo diversos fatores aos riscos, principalmente os econômicos, como perda de salários recebidos, arrecadações perdidas e custos com o tratamento da doença (ALMEIDA MEL, et al, 2002;ROVITO MJ, 2016;WU CHEN E, et al, 2019).…”