MEN AND
BY SHARON BIGGS WALLER
CANCER
JOHN WAYNE CANCER FOUNDATION WANTS TO BRING AWARENESS TO STATISTICS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
M
en are 49 percent more likely to die of cancer than women, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. That’s a sobering fact, and it’s a number that needs to go down, but it will only happen by getting proactive and having cancer screenings. Ethan Wayne, son of John Wayne and CEO of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, admits there aren’t a lot of resources targeted to guys when it comes to convincing them to have cancer screenings. In 1979, as John Wayne’s death from stomach cancer drew near, he asked his family to help the doctors who helped him. They answered by forming the foundation, which is passionate about helping men with cancer. “We do things my dad would have liked. For instance, there isn’t anything to encourage men to get their prostate checked or a colonoscopy. So we have these cool kits with stickers that people can stick on a toilet paper roll or a cigarette box that say ‘It’s time to quit smoking’ or ‘I’d rather be a nag than a widow.’” Dr. Kevin R. Polsley, of the Internal Medicine and Pediatrics department at Loyola University Health System, sees the hassle of a colonoscopy as one of the biggest reasons men give for deferring cancer screenings. “A colonoscopy requires a lengthy prep the day before, and on the day of the actual procedure the entire process may take a few hours.” As a rule, women are more proactive when it comes to health issues, says Mary Shields, administrator of Community Cancer Research Foundation and Community Healthcare System. “Men are more
responsive to hard facts,” she says, “so if women want to encourage the men in their lives to have screenings, make sure that you’re armed with some facts to share. It is also helpful to have peers share their personal experiences with cancer or screenings. This typically has a better result than a bossy wife.” Dr. Polsley adds that women might also consider having screenings done themselves, such as a colonoscopy, so that they can experience the process
Recommended Screenings for Men • Oral cavity cancer: This procedure checks for any abnormalities in the mouth area. This is performed during any good dental exam or checkup with a primary care physician. • Skin cancer: Ask a doctor to look at skin on the back or at anything that looks out of the ordinary. • Prostate cancer: The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test that looks for signs of prostate cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, this should be paired with a digital rectal exam once a year starting at age 50, unless a family member had prostate cancer at a younger age. • Testicular cancer: This should be checked for during any routine physical exam. It tends to occur in younger individuals and should be checked starting at age 20. FOR MORE INFORMATION: John Wayne Cancer Foundation: jwcf.org
together. “He will see that the process is not that bad, and she will show him that preventative screening tests will benefit not only himself but his entire family in the long run.” If the men in your life are still unsure about getting their cancer screenings, tell them what John Wayne said: “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
TEAM DUKE: an athletic fundraiser that benefits the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, teamduke.org
july/august 2012 | GET HEALTHY | 21