I came across an article on the Health News Digest website that addresses a growing need in our society. In the article, “Skin Cancer on the Rise For Men Over the Age of 50″, the growth of skin cancer in that demographic is discussed.
Studies have shown that men are more than twice as likely to develop skin cancer as their female counterparts. Surprisingly skin cancer is more common than prostate cancer, lung cancer, or colon cancer. Yet these diseases seem to get much more publicity and hype.
The fact that skin cancer is more common in men can be contributed to quite a few factors. One is that they are more likely to work in an outdoor setting, and another is that they are less likely to wear sunscreen or protective clothing.
“Although they are highly susceptible to skin cancer, many men wait too long to visit a doctor about suspicious moles and they don’t take the time to protect their skin,” said Dr. David Goldberg, member of the ASDS. “Early detection is very important to men, as melanoma has a 90 percent survival rate if diagnosed at an early stage. So, men need to pay attention to changes in their skin and take precaution by using sunscreen and scheduling annual screenings.”
Being a man I can tell you that most of us do not go to the doctor until it gets to be an absolute necessity. That’s a tactic that might work out all right with some other minor things, but with skin cancer it can be deadly. The thing about skin cancer is that early detection is so key. If its spotted early, skin cancer is very treatable.
Skin cancer is also preventable through the use of protective clothing and sunscreen. These are some other things that men aren’t big fans on. Most of us figure we can protect ourselves. Yet we have no problem wearing shoulder pads when we’re playing football. Think of sunscreen in the same manner, it seems like a small chore to do to save all of that future grief.
I want to implore my fellow men to not wait to the last second to head to the doctor if you see something suspicious. I also encourage the use of sunscreen and protective clothing. Its impossible not to work outside, but its pure stupidity not to take precautions. The best way to avoid having to go to the doctor later in life, would be to use that sunscreen and protective clothing now. That’s just the manly thing to do.
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