Growing up in youth sports, boys are often told to be tough. To “walk off pain.” To “suck it up.” To “man up.”
Unfortunately, that’s fed a culture where men are less likely to seek medical care until it may be too late.
According to a recent poll by AskMen.com, even under the best circumstances (they have health insurance and have a primary care physician) most men will still refrain from going to the doctor. Fifty-eight percent of 1,100 respondents to the poll said they’d only go if they feared something was dire.
It’s that culture that Taylor Mill resident Steve Del Gardo hopes to help break down.
Del Gardo, 45, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 after noticing a lump in his chest. First diagnosed as a benign cyst, doctors later told him he had stage one breast cancer. Though rare in men, about 2,360 new cases will be diagnosed this year, according to the American Cancer Society. About 430 of those men will die.
After undergoing treatment, Del Gardo has now been cancer-free for 14 months and is a men’s health advocate, working with his male breast cancer website www.protectthepecs.org.
“My doctor told me if I had waited another six months before seeing him, we would have been having an entirely different conversation. Not a good one,” said Del Gardo.
“Guys can’t let fear or pride or whatever keep them from seeing their doctor. You’ve gotta listen to that little voice in your head that say something’s not right. It’s definitely not wimping out, taking care of yourself,” he added.
According to the National Institute of Health and other experts, here’s a schedule of tests men should take and other issues to watch to stay on top of their health issues:
Age 20 and Up
- Blood pressure: High blood pressure may lead to heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. You should have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years.
- Diabetes: High blood pressure may be a symptom of diabetes.
- Testicular cancer: Most common type of cancer in men ages 15 to 34, early detection improves chances of survival by up to 90 percent.
Age 35 and Up
- Cholesterol: Should be checked at least every five years, especially if your cholesterol if found to be high.
- Skin cancer: Melanomas, the most deadly form of skin cancer, continue to climb in the U.S., with around 50,000 new diagnoses each year. As with most things, early detection is key. Look for moles that change color or shape, or sores that won’t heal.
Age 50
- Colon cancer: The second leading cause of death from cancer in U.S., you should get screened even earlier if colorectal cancer runs in your family. A colonoscopy is painless, takes 15-20 minutes, and can detect colon cancer when it’s most treatable.
- Fecal occult blood test: Blood in your stool, even if it’s not visible to the eye, can indicate intestinal conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or colorectal cancer.
- Prostate cancer screening: Though not popular, a digital rectal exam is a lifesaver because prostate cancer affects one in six men.
Age 65 and Up
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: An ultrasound can detect the problem, which can lead to a sudden rupture, which are often fatal. According to one study, 35-50 percent of abdominal aortic aneurysms result in death before a victim can reach a hospital.
- Bone density test: The loss of bone strength, osteoporosis, can lead to broken hips or vertebral fractures, seriously affecting your quality of life.
