3 minute read
Prostate cancer - building awareness
What’s in this article
To help raise awareness of this disease, Rural Doctors Foundation interviewed Dr Dan Halliday, an experienced rural doctor and a former Director and Chair of the Foundation.
Why is raising awareness so important for men’s health?
It shines a light on the issue and highlights the gap in men’s health with a focus on prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Australia with 20,000 diagnoses and over 3,000 related deaths each year (Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia).
How can people support the health of the men in their life ?
- Don’t be afraid to have the discussion about issues in men’s health, in particular cancers affecting men.
- Show support, kindness and understanding should the man in your life be unsure of how to access or seek out help.
- There is still a perceived stigma around men seeking healthcare and the male psyche of being seen as weak when seeking help.
- Be patient.
What is the importance of raising awareness about cancers affecting men?
By raising awareness of cancers affecting men, we can open the conversation with those special men in our lives. And through education, we can encourage men to access and seek help. Even if it’s just a reassuring chat with their Specialist General Practitioner – it may be the start of a continuing discussion needed to open a pathway to ongoing health.
How can men reduce their risk of developing cancer?
Talk to loved ones and friends seeking their support. Book that first appointment with a Specialist General Practitioner (GP) Take your time, make a long appointment to start with. Go prepared – write down what you might want to discuss or focus on. Embrace openness and honesty. Work with your GP through the details. Ask questions – doctors are there to support you. Act on plans made. Follow up with a second up appointment with your GP as needed.
If you are ever in doubt, reach out to organisations such as Rural Doctors Foundation. You will find the conversation easier than you think.
Susie Cunningham is a journalist who lives in the beautiful Scenic Rim region. She shares her observations of rural living through the eyes of those who live and work in our rural communities.
