Fear Makes Men Avoid Seeking Help for Prostate Cancer

A new study has revealed that fear of what the symptoms of prostate cancer may suggest, stops men from seeking help from medical practitioners.

The study by Birmingham University team found that they often considered the symptoms they have, to be an indication of a serious disease.

The disease is the third most common form of cancer among men that affects about 30,000 a year.

“As this study also indicates, we need to understand a lot more about men's perceptions of and their actual experience of entering and using the healthcare system,” the BBC quoted Dr Chris Hiley, of The Prostate Cancer Charity, as saying.

The study also found that men often ignored the idea of visiting a GP due to the common cliche that real men are not bothered about health problems.

“This suggests that, far from ignoring the symptoms or being uncaring about their health, men are extremely anxious. Fears about the effects of illness and treatment emerged as major influences on their eventual decisions to seek help," lead researcher Dr Susan Hale said.

“This study is really interesting. It throws up all kinds of questions about men's behaviour and their interpretation of health messages, which we must pay attention to as a charity active in health awareness. As this study also indicates, we need to understand a lot more about men's perceptions of and their actual experience of entering and using the healthcare system,” Hiley said.

Source-ANI
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