Thursday 31 May 2001
Men under 25 are seriously risking their health by being too embarrassed to seek medical advice for personal illnesses reports a new survey conducted by Men's Health Magazine on behalf of The Institute of Cancer Research to launch the fourth everyman - male cancer awareness month.
Embarrassment is preventing over 1/4 (31.4%) of men under 25 from seeing their GPs. In addition 1/3 (33%) of this age group find it difficult to speak to their doctors about embarrassing medical issues. The findings give real cause for concern in view of the fact that testicular cancer is the most common cancer amongst young men.
Testicular cancer has a 96% cure rate if it is caught early enough so The Institute is worried that young men may die unnecessarily if they don't visit their doctor immediately with their concerns.
Dr Peter Rigby, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research said, "It is incredible that in the 21st century men are still embarrassed to talk about these cancers. The everyman campaign has helped to create more awareness but we need to work towards a time when everyone feels comfortable to talk to their GP about male cancers. Early diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and men must go to their GPs immediately if they have concerns about testicular or prostate cancer."
Interestingly men become less embarrassed about discussing health problems as they get older. The survey shows that only 25% of men over 25 find it difficult to talk to their doctor and only 19% of men over 25 cited embarrassment as a factor when seeking medical advice.
It is vital that fathers talk about health issues to their sons when there have been incidences of cancer in the family. However, the survey shows that although fathers are becoming more conscious of talking about health issues it is still not common practice. More than 80% of men over 35 had never discussed health issues as an adolescent with their fathers and this figure remains high (64%) for men under 35.
Clare Moynihan, medical sociologist at The Institute of Cancer Research has found through her work that men do not talk to each other about health even in families where there is a history of prostate or testicular cancer. She says "We need to move away from a culture in which talking becomes an added pressure on men and work towards providing them with the sort of information they need and want."
Clare continues, "If a father has had prostate or testicular cancer he should talk about the symptoms to other family members so that the younger generation will be fully informed to spot early signs of the disease. We must address the complex problems as to why men don't want to go to their GPs. Often it is about embarrassment and/or fear that can be allayed through giving clear information."
Other results from the survey show:
- 44.5% of men would talk to their partner first if they had concerns about prostate or testicular cancer and only 30.7% would initially talk to their GP.
- 45% of over 35s found it very easy to talk to their GP compared to 18% of men under 35.
One man dies every hour from prostate cancer in the UK. It mainly affects older men and has become the second most common cancer in men. Worryingly over the next decade the incidence has been predicted to rise considerably, overtaking lung and breast cancer.
Statistics show that the incidence of testicular cancer is also on the increase. Cases have risen by 70 per cent in the last twenty years but scientists are still baffled as to why this is. Vital research is needed so that the scientists can understand more about both prostate and testicular cancers so that they can be treated more effectively.
The everyman campaign was set up in September 1997 by The Institute of Cancer Research to raise awareness of and funding for male cancers. Money raised by the campaign is going towards supporting research at the UK's first dedicated male cancer research centre at The Institute's site in Sutton, Surrey.
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Notes to editors
If you would like to speak to an expert on male cancers or a case study please contact The Institute of Cancer Research press office on 0207 970 6030.
- June will mark the beginning of the fourth everyman - male cancer awareness month.
- The survey was run on the Men's Health website www.menshealth.com 1,048 answers were included in the survey. It was held by Sports Marketing Surveys.
- The Institute of Cancer Research has recently been named as a Centre of Excellence for Prostate Cancer.
- Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, with 21,400 new cases diagnosed every year.
- Testicular cancer is the most common cancer amongst young men aged 20 - 35. Cases have risen by 70% in the last 20 years but doctors do not know why.