Ask the average woman what is her first and greatest medical fear - and the most likely answer will be " breast cancer " ! This disease has struck down many high profile women and as a result a finely tuned fund raising network is in place to not only research the disease - but to urge women to take precautions to catch the disease early, when a cure is possible.
In contrast, until recently the most common disease of men - prostate cancer - was virtually ignored, and yet this disease kills more men than the 2,600 women who succumb to breast cancer. Each year 20,000 men are diagnosed with the disease and 3,300 die.
Prostate cancer is a mystery disease. We do not really know what causes it and in many cases it remains in a benign stage for many years. It is common for men to die of other causes and are said to be " with " prostate cancer - rather than died " of " prostate cancer.
Like breast cancer, early detection is the key and in most cases it is " treatable ". The biggest problem seems to be a reluctance by men to discuss the disease with their doctor or subject themselves to the necessary testing.
Strangely, it is men who whole heartily support the breast cancer appeals to fund this disease research. Sporting teams appear in the appeals trademark " pink " colours and give generously of their time and money to raise funds for medical research to find a cure, and yet few show much enthusiasm for a similar effort to beat prostate cancer.
Perhaps the medical people are overlooking the most important factor in influencing the decisions men take. If women can be persuaded to accept the role of advising their husbands or boy friends to treat prostate cancer seriously - and getting them to have the necessary checks - then this disease could quickly reach the level of containment now held by breast cancer.
It is easy to under rate the power that the sexes hold on mutual decision making !
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