Personal health can be a taboo subject for men. Quite often, men ignore serious symptoms, too embarrassed to talk with a doctor, let alone friends. It is a decision that is costing men their lives and Bryan Evans and Danny Thompson say it is time for all men to speak up and take control of their health. Rachel Oldknow reports.
IT is a well known fact men don’t like going to the doctor.
Getting men to talk about their health is like trying to get blood out of a stone.
Two local men determined to change that and raise awareness about the importance of regular health checks for men, in particular prostate cancer, is Bryan Evans and local health professional, Danny Thompson.
Tomorrow night Singleton Cancer Appeal will host a dinner raising awareness about prostate cancer and both men sat down to talk about the disease.
Seven men die of prostate cancer every day. With 18,700 new cases each year, prostate cancer has become the most common male cancer.
Unfortunately, early prostate cancer may not have any symptoms but the good news is it can be treated and cured in some cases.
“Prostate cancer has the same number of deaths as breast cancer,” Bryan told The Singleton Argus.
“Yet that figure does not seem to be as widely recognised,” he said.
It is for this reason Bryan, who has had colon cancer, feels the need to raise awareness about the disease and to get men to the doctor to be tested.
In doing so, he enlisted the help of local health professional Danny Thompson to spread the message.
As a scientific officer working under the auspice of pathology at Singleton Hospital, Danny sees prostate cancer sufferers on a daily basis and has also had a family member diagnosed with the disease.
“I had a family member who ignored the symptoms and who took advice from his mates at the club,” he said.
“Because of the nature and embarrassment he didn’t go to the doctors and by then the prostate cancer had taken hold,” Danny said.
It is this reason that Danny urges other men to have regular health check ups as part of their general health care.
He concedes that a fear of doctors is a concern but says good news for men is there is a new method that can be done.
“The biggest fallacy is that men have to have a digital rectal examination,” Danny said.
“That’s the traditional method but the majority is now done by a blood test called a prostate specific antigen or psa,” he said.
“That test means very few (men) need to get a digital rectal examination.”
His advice is for men especially over the age of 40, is to get regular check ups, both for prostate and their cholesterol levels.
“From my personal experience, that is the way I approach my health,” he said.
“If men have a family history of prostate cancer they should have the test done on a regular basis and certainly if the male relative has had first and second degree prostate cancer, they should be checked,” he said.
Bryan agrees with Danny about men’s fear of doctors.
“It’s a bit prudish,” he said of the issue.
“Men don’t like anyone lurking around them with a finger and a glove on but having people informed about their options and what it all means is the biggest thing to raise awareness,” he said.
Tomorrow night the Singleton Cancer Appeal will host a dinner at the Agricultural Hotel raising awareness about prostate cancer with proceeds from the night will be donated to Singleton Hospital.
Prostate cancer ambassador, Gary Herrett, is guest speaker for the evening which is aimed to speak, educate and encourage men to do something about their own health. The presentation will focus on all forms of prostate illnesses especially cancer and also incontinence.
Bryan says the night is as much for women as it is for men.
“It is also important to educate women because women will take control of their husband’s health,” he said.
“The blokes may ignore it but women take hold and do something about it.”
The dinner is $60 per person or $100 per couple which includes a two course dinner, wine and entertainment. Start is 7pm. To book a spot please contact Belinda on 6573 3003 or Kay on 6573 1072.
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