This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Men's Cancer

Jump to new
Julia said:
So, fellas, do as Prospector suggests: stop bemoaning how it is, and get out there and get it happening. I'm more than happy for my tax dollars to support research and publicity for you.
Click to expand...

Can't women just do it for us? it sounds like a lot of effort:

I'm fine with the imbalance of funds anyway
 


Hi Ladies,

Just to let you both know I value your inputs across this entire forum and thank you for your inputs now.

I wasn't bemoaning or saying it's anybodies fault...I was just bringing to attention the fact that men's cancers don't really receive the recognition they deserve...you both may in fact be entirely right...maybe it is the macho stigma that men are infallible and don't need to visit the doctor?

But since you are both saying men need to do something (and it's quite clear we are incapable : ) can you lovely ladies (generally speaking) help us out and campaign for us?

Much love
 
Mates. Please READ.
Go talk to a mate about either testicular or prostate cancer. Never talked about it? (that IS the problem). I didnt know till recently that testicular cancer is much more of a problem for young men.

Talk to your teenage son, about finding any lumps on the knackers!
Reckon you have trouble broaching the subject (be honest) then talk about Lance Armstrong.

Reckon you might have trouble talking about prostate cancer (I called it prostrate for years ) then here is a light hearted story (old joke) I went to the docs the other day to have a prostate examination, bent over, doc sticks a finger in and says, "everything seems OK". I call out over my shoulder, "Doc can you stick another finger in". Doc says with a puzzled cautious expression "errr ..what for?!!". I replied, "I always like a second opinion"

To the girls who have replied to this post. THANK YOU. Us boys are trying to be tough but really we are just **** scared. And girls if anyone can get though their dads tough armourey, it is their daughters, talk to you dad, talk to your brothers, grand dads.

Went to a funeral about a month ago, and found out the guy had NEVER been to the doctor for over 30 years (he died at 51).

Mates we gotta drop the facade about being tough (I know, I HAVE been doing it for YEARS). If you want to be really tough. Then talk.

donate some bucks and

...keep talking.

Cheers (Good Health)
 
If you think about it, it's amazing that our life expectancy isn't that much lower than the women .
 

Now this is a great Post!

As I mentioned before, in our family with testicular cancer being very much a big issue (the person involved was 23 when diagnosed) we have never had any problems in talking about mens health issues. You have to think of parts of your body as biological specimens and nothing to do with sexuality. Or bravado. Once you can leap past that, well, the sky is the limit!:

Here's to healthy men, and women!

JTLP, you crack me up! And in your post lies the answer to the original issue!

Maybe Joe could look at ASF sponsoring something for Prostate Day and donate the funds to an appropriate charity, even the Cancer Council might have a specific men's area for donations. I'd put in a quid!
 
too many caner journeys for me.. family and friends.. i cant say i have enjoyed any of them and i find they drain the life out of me a bit also..

prostate in the case of my father was a tough one to see him die.

awareness of the causes of these cancers and awareness of your own health with checkups is a great way to manage risk..

i go to my local doc and he tests me for everything. i do this about once every year or two..

i may book in today for another, this thread is a timely reminder
 

I have got to say the whole thing about men not talking about medical problems is just a myth! Maybe men don’t talk about it, yet equally just as many women don’t talk about it, or see a doctor. Ever since this thread started I have been asking quite a few people about the level of medical discussions they have - with family and friends etc, and generally few talk about anything to do with ‘their’ own medical issues, this goes equally for both men and women. Sure, they might discuss Mr or Mrs Smith has cancer, or died from XYZ, yet as for their own issues, very few talk about it unless something is dramatically affecting them right now.

What I have found though, is that due to the level of exposure (media) of women’s health issues they are more aware of it, including men – that is, aware of women’s health issues. It is surprising how many men I have spoken to – now and in the past, who have no idea at all about cancers that specifically affect them, or the risks of cancer in general. This is not necessarily through ignorance, yet it could be argued it is, yet there is so little ‘out there’ that makes them aware. I have never been asked by a GP have I been tested or examined for XYZ cancer etc. I see lots of posters in the GP’s office for have you had your <insert test name> lately? And, it’s something to remind women. My partner is sent reminders about a pap-smear test should she have forgotten. The list goes on.

What it all comes down to is that men need to grab the issue by the horns – or testicles – and make something happen. As others have said, women have been their own best advocate, whereas men have done nothing, or very little to further their own medical plight.

Hey, I’m prepared to design a website, get some information about cancers that effect men – both specific and general – and create a mailing list that informs them about new discoveries, what they should check for, be aware of, make sure to see a doctor and start a fund that see’s money go straight to fighting men’s (specific) cancers. I’ll do it for free. I’ll take a few hundred from the funds raised to pay for the website name and hosting, and the rest can go direct to those who can make a difference.

So who would send this to everyone they know and badger them to make sure they send it on to others and make sure that the few million men out there get the link and become aware of the problems they may face?

I will! Who’s up for it?
 

Great idea. Maybe you could ask Joe to send a link to do a mass pm list to all members?

Not sure if I agree with you about women not talking about health issues though - one of the more general conversations that women have when catching up for a coffee is usually about the pain of mammograms, the indignities of pap smears and then breast examinations. And most women do go through childbirth. So to be honest, it is quite a 'popular' topic of conversation.
 

I know...note to self: No career in being a spin doctor...

I like the 2nd idea...
 
I think this is a large part of it with men, a sort of cracking hardy crossed with an unwillingness to acknowledge you could be vulnerable to such a threat, perhaps?


But since you are both saying men need to do something (and it's quite clear we are incapable : ) can you lovely ladies (generally speaking) help us out and campaign for us?

Much love
Click to expand...
And much love to you too, JTLP, but you have to start somewhere, and if we were to deprive you of such an initiative, we'd be also depriving you of the pride you will feel when you begin to see your efforts bearing fruit.


Great post, jbocker. Consider toughness this way perhaps: isn't it better to be tough enough to get regular investigations with your GP than try to find the toughness to face cancer?
 
Yep, same within my group of friends. No small amount of time is devoted to comparing techniques of doctors when doing the pap smears, for example.
Every woman I know is resigned to the need for this plus mammograms (surely one of the most uncomfortable examinations ever, huh Prospector?) at least every two years, more if there are risk factors.

Another factor might be that women usually are more prepared to seek medical advice in general than are blokes: perhaps this is to do with us being more comfortable generally in talking about what bothers us.
You men, on the other hand, seem more likely to think that if you don't talk about whatever it is, it might just go away.
Sorry if I'm quite wrong here. Generalisations are always dangerous.
 

And I am betting the guys toes are curling at reading our posts Julia!
 
Prospector said:
And I am betting the guys toes are curling at reading our posts Julia!
Click to expand...

Nah, not in the least : I just think it’s funny that all men seem to be lumped into the same kettle.

Show me a man who doesn’t talk about his feelings, or health or some other Vogue magazine silly survey - this is not a go at you or Julia - just that these sorts of magazines always portray men to be the hardened, wooden, careless automatons that they are , and I will show you a woman who is the same.

Maybe it could be a generation thing as well? Younger women talk about it or don’t, or older/middle aged women talk about it or don’t.

My partners a female and I almost have to drag her kicking and screaming to the doctor. If her leg feel off it would be a case of, it’s all right I have another
 
stocksontheblock said:
Nah, not in the least : I just think it’s funny that all men seem to be lumped into the same kettle.

Show me a man who doesn’t talk about his feelings, or health or some other Vogue magazine silly survey :
Click to expand...

Ok, forget the trashy mags, but how about medical sources

http://www.farmacologica.com.au/news-menshealth

Men's Health01/06/2008

Men visit doctors less often than women, in most cases wait longer before having health problems treated. It is often with regular check-ups, men can improve the quality of life.

A number of health issues are more common in men. In some cases it is because men are simply at more risk and often they do not take necessary precautions to improve their quality of life sooner.

And from the States:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_88002.html

Middle-aged men who are most devoted to traditional beliefs about masculinity are half as likely as other men to get routine medical care, researchers report.

It's not clear whether feelings about masculinity directly make men avoid doctor visits; the study only indicates that a cause-and-effect link might exist. Nor do researchers know what this might mean for men's health.

Still, the findings suggest that "we could help men's health if we could dismantle this idea that manhood and masculinity is about being invulnerable, not needing help and not showing pain," said study author Kristen W. Springer, an assistant professor of sociology at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Previous research has suggested that "men are less likely to go to the doctor than women, across the board," Springer said -- a notion she finds surprising because men are wealthier overall, potentially giving them better access to medical care. After adjusting the results to reduce the chance they would be thrown off by such things as a high number of married participants, researchers found that men who were the highest believers in masculine standards were 50 percent less likely to get the recommended care than other men.

Springer was unable to provide statistics about the percentage of men in each group who got the recommended care. Overall, though, fewer than half of all men did, according to the study.

There was one exception to the rule: Blue-collar workers who had a high attachment to masculinity were more likely to get the recommended health care.
SOURCES: Kristen W. Springer, Ph.D., assistant professor, sociology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J.; Howard S. Friedman, Ph.D., professor, psychology, University of California, Riverside; Aug. 10, 2009, presentation, American Sociological Association annual meeting, San Francisco

http://men.webmd.com/news/20070620/why-men-skip-doctor-visits

June 20, 2007 -- Many U.S. men only go to their doctor when they're extremely sick, skipping preventive care, a new survey shows.

Harris Interactive conducted the online survey of more than 1,100 men for the American Academy of Family Physicians.
 
Thanks, an interesting read.

However, this one does worry me:

Prospector said:
Springer was unable to provide statistics about the percentage of men in each group who got the recommended care. Overall, though, fewer than half of all men did, according to the study.
Click to expand...

How do you not know the figures for you own study?

However, most people tend to think of the 'tradie' or brickie' or truckie' as the masculine ones who drink beer, smoke and dont share feelings, let alone go to the doctor, so it is interesting to see something like:

There was one exception to the rule: Blue-collar workers who had a high attachment to masculinity were more likely to get the recommended health care.
Click to expand...

Although, it would be nice to see the figures on this one as well.

The one amazing thing I have found in the past 45 mins or so, in all the searches and articles I have managed to find I cant find anything that actually gives numbers. Its not that it will make any of this more relevant (or less), yet its just that 'men are less likely ...' seems to be a catch-all phrase.

I'll accept this is true if need be, yet how does anyone know?

Is it really that bad? I mean, are men less likely to go to the doctor as a factor of 2%, or is it as bad as 90% and hence men and their health are in real (and potentially serious) danger? Is someone better at Google than me and know?
 

Well, look around at your average Doctor's surgery. There will be kids (brought in usually by their mums); women, and couples, usually older, and the hubby is there for the wife's visit. Of course, gross generalisations but you get my drift. Unless a guy is physically injured with a broken leg or something, you rarely see them at Drs surgeries; but you frequently see women of all ages. Oh yeah, and man colds <ducking for cover>

About the statistics, I think it is because most people like to skim to the conclusions and dont know what to do with statistics. But as you correctly point out, it is all about the interpretation!

Here are some articles with stats:
http://www.vicbar.com.au/webdata/pdf/Mens health.pdf

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@...1f6bee4052f3fb49ca2570ec00192aa1!OpenDocument

Scroll down to the Health Action taken section in this article. Not exactly what you are after though.
 

Thanks, its always good to read different things, somewhere inbetween it all I(we)might find what we are after

Not to get to carried away with facts and figures, I did manage to find something - the most recent that actually has figures suggests that 42% of all visits are by men - not to bad considering some of the alarmist articles I have found, yet still, its not half of the visits which it should be IMO.

http://www.aihw.gov.au/eventsdiary/ah06/presentations/helena_britt_primary_health_care.pps

Note: this is a power-point presentation

I think the one hard thing to get better figures is that there appears not to be one single collection point of information. There is a project called BEACH which appears to get the best results. The one I found - which I don’t have to pay for, is based on 04/05 and 800,000 respondents.

Still this is not that good considering I found a QLD Health document which says that 85% of all Australians visit the doctor, and on average 6 times a year, which means the 800,000 figure is less than 1% of the total - so it could get worse, or maybe better.

(Math: assume 20m people, divide by 85%, 17m * 800,000, divide 102m by 800,000 and get less than 1%)
 
Timely thread Prospector,

have read several articles last couple of days re mens health

A few things I have noticed

men dont like to show weakness, so dont discuss their health concerns with other men, women seem to have no similar concern, always rattling on about various minor complaints.

I hate going to the doctor, feel like a hypochondriac.

have had more than my fair share of health problems.

went to the quack some time ago, and got a lecture off him saying there was plenty of people out there sicker than me, when i questioned him about course of treatment...turned out to be a fairly serious matter.

women are more stoic about medical treatment, think it is cause they are wired to endure childbirth
 

Take it easy son...i'm the genius behind this one

Prospector has merely done the amazing research, brought to the table a multitude of brilliant ideas and resolutions and thrown in some fantastic input.

But I started the thread
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more...