Pretoria - Some men wouldn’t go a month without having their car’s engine and oil level checked.
And others won’t leave theirs out in the sun.
A recent US survey commissioned by Men’s Health Network has found that 70 percent of men find it easier to care for their cars than their personal health.
For this reason local men’s health experts are joining the chorus during this Men’s Health Month to advocate for men to turn some of their attention on themselves, and get wise about prostate and skin cancer dangers.
The 2011 survey of 501 men, aged between 45 and 65, showed more than 40 percent of men were more likely to address their car issues than their health.
The Cancer Association of SA (Cansa) says prostate cancer is one of the leading cancers in men worldwide.
The organisation said recent stats indicate that black men are at an increased risk of prostate cancer and “often develop an aggressive type of prostate cancer”.
It is estimated that one in six men in South Africa will develop cancer in their lifetime.
“Prostate cancer is caused by changes in the DNA of a normal prostate cell,” Cansa spokesman Professor Michael Herbst said on Thursday.
“DNA makes up the genes, which control how cells behave… it occurs more frequently in older men. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer are over 65.
“It seems to run in some families, and scientists have found several inherited genes that seem to raise prostate cancer risk.”
Other risk factors in developing the cancer, he said, included poor dietary choices, high alcohol intake and the use of anabolic steroids.
Dr Ali Hamdulay, from Metropolitan’s health division, said “getting regular medical attention and self-examinations makes a huge difference in early detection of cancer”.
“Don’t ignore the warning lights – they could save your life. If you’re experiencing pain and are struggling to pass urine or have a weak flow, it may indicate a problem with your prostate or, even worse, prostate cancer. Those with a family history of the disease should start annual testing in their 40s.”
And if one noticed any unusual lump or swelling of the testicles, Hamdulay said, they need to be checked for testicular cancer, which is common in males between the ages of 15 and 39.
He warned that men in SA also face a risk of skin cancer.
Pretoria News