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When "hiding places are back in fashion and phrases like" mo bros "get their money back, you know Movember is back in town. In the penultimate month of the year, many institutions across the country often offer men a variety of creative discounts and privileges, with the goal of encouraging more dialogue on a topic that many do not. Do not have the habit of keeping: health.
With regard to medical examinations, the results – anecdotal and statistical – are not very healthy. It turns out that men are far more likely to "do everything and anything" to avoid a doctor visit than women. According to a 2016 survey conducted by the Cleveland American Clinic among 500 men, 60% of those surveyed do not consult their doctor, while more than half (53%) admit that their health is not a topic of discussion. conversation. With several other studies reporting similar results, you can be sure that you know men who do not need to be harbaded, dragged or cheated to see a doctor, you join the minority.
From standard vests "too busy" to the mistaken ideas that "real men resist," the reasons for this position are often debatable as varied. But the message of the month experts and survivors is the same: ignorance – at least with respect to health – is not a bliss.
"No shame in the disease"
Abdullah (name changed), an expatriate based in the United Arab Emirates, had the habit of falling into the "resistant" camp until his testicular cancer changed the course of his life forever. It all started with a "strange feeling" in the infected area, says the 56-year-old. He felt in the area two small pieces the size of a chickpea, but he chose to do nothing else. He asked a pharmacist for a pain reliever that he used every time he felt pain.
For almost a year, he refused medical tests – until the painkillers could no longer help him and he was forced to make an appointment with a doctor. To his astonishment, the pieces had now reached the size of an orange, which his doctors (after many tests) told him that it could only be solved by surgery: the infected area had to be removed.
This disturbing report prompted Jordanians to seek the advice of doctors from several countries, including his own – but they all came to the same conclusion. Finally having no choice, Abdullah complied with the doctor's recommendations, but post-operative tests revealed that the cancer cells had already spread. Seven cycles of chemotherapy later, he received the green light from his doctors, who recommended regular checkups every six months – the ones he intends to follow.
Abdullah said that although the experience was painful, he had definitely learned a lot more than what he had planned to do by avoiding these initial trips to the doctor. "This trip has really changed," he says, reaffirming what doctors have been telling us from the beginning: the sooner you get cancer, the more likely you are to heal. "No matter how bad your problem is, if you notice something strange in your body, see a doctor – you could save a lot." I lost a part of my body because of a problem. lack of knowledge about my illness, "he continues. "No one likes to go to the hospital – including myself – and, as men, we usually prefer to solve a problem without consulting a doctor." But that's the worst something we can do for ourselves. "
The other thing he's learned? Talking about men's health can only be helpful. Many people may feel embarrbaded or ashamed when they find themselves in such a situation, he notes. After all, who wants to admit that they have testicular cancer? "Of all the cases I know are similar to mine, 60 to 70 percent of men were ashamed of their condition – but the disease has nothing to be ashamed of," Abdullah said. In his case, friends, family members and companies such as the organization Friends of Cancer Patients, a non-profit organization based in Sharjah, have chosen to be very supportive while respecting its private life. "I do not have a history of cancer in my family – and yet, I've been diagnosed, it's important that we educate our people about these issues."
From left to right: Dr. Waleed Hbaden, Dr. Basel Altrabulsi and Dr. Prakash S Pania
Masculinity matters
Interestingly, masculinity seems to be a key factor that emerges from all studies that have never explored why men seem so "allergic" to health checks. Despite the challenges of traditional gender stereotypes of recent years, machismo and bravado continue to be markers of masculinity that seem deeply rooted in the male psyche. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, until such notions interfere with good medical advice. So, while there is a time and place to keep the mind powerless, in terms of health, there is a lot to say about mental health.
On another level, there is also the real discomfort or vulnerability that many men will show during some physical exams. For example, one of the major diseases that Movember asks men to screen for is prostate cancer, the third most common cancer in the UAE. Dr. Waleed Hbaden, staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and chair of the NCCN's Prostate Cancer Guidelines Committee in the Middle East, noted that "more than 50% of men show up at a more advanced stage. advanced prostate cancer "in the UAE. "This is likely due to the lack of education and screening for PSA rather than the differences inherent in the disease here compared to other parts of the world," he said.
However, although screening can be as simple as a blood test, it sometimes requires a digital rectal exam – which can, of course, elicit a "devil" response from most people. Harry Belafonte, an American singer and prostate cancer survivor, probably summed up the situation by stating, "The prostate is something that attacks that central part of the male body that men are very concerned about." Somewhere, any mess means that your life is over, you can no longer be a man, you are now something less. "However, the activist does not hesitate to add:" If you are going to have [prostate cancer]you will have it. That's what you do about it that makes the difference: how you lead your life. "
The situation is not without sympathy. The modern man is under extreme stress, notes Dr. Prakash S Pania, consultant endocrinologist at Aster Jubilee Medical Complex. "He respects deadlines, pays IMEs, often walks away from home and runs from one pillar to the next to ensure his family a stable and secure future." he tends to neglect his own health, often by "sacrificing" his life – regular examinations in the interest of time or money – often he knows that he may be suffering to be of some medical disorder, but he pretends to ignore it hoping that the problem will miraculously disappear instead. "
These are perceptions that lead Dr. Pania to think that more awareness campaigns are in order. "Unlike the bad awareness campaign in October, which has gained worldwide recognition, the Movember movement to highlight men's issues is still in its infancy and needs more support."
Rob Donker, wellness advocate
& # 39; Listen to your body & # 39;
Movember is not just about getting control once you're older. According to some sources, one of the most common excuses that men invoke when they refuse to see a doctor is that they feel perfectly well. Rob Donker, a wellness advocate and owner of several health and fitness companies in Dubai, acknowledges that even though he is proud of the super healthy and fit lifestyle that he leads, he tends to "bring out the Neanderthal" because he "expects to happen" before he makes an appointment with the doctor. "It's probably our male pride that makes us think we're indestructible," he says with sport.
However, he also notes that health and fitness, although two peas in a pod are not synonymous. "Fitness alone can not be a marker of health," he says. "There are several factors that contribute to your health: put yourself in your body, manage your stress properly, take care of your mental health, get moving every day, there must be a balance."
Believing firmly in listening to the body, he said, "If people listened properly to their bodies, they would be able to solve a lot of problems, it works with physical pain – the way the body signals that something is wrong. not – and working with food, we all have a natural barometer of what we know is good and bad for us, we know, but we do not act accordingly. "
A poll of men we talked to saw many lawyers avoiding medical exams because they did not want to hear bad news. According to Rob, "I would recommend that people follow what the medical industry says is the right time to get tested, and if you're doing your health – your movement, your nutrition, and your stress management – you can do these tests without nervousness or worry. "
Dr. Basel Altrabulsi, Medical Officer of the National Reference Laboratory in Dubai, also said: "Many diseases and conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer are dormant or not present. no symptoms Based on the patient's history, physical examination and diagnostic tests, doctors can identify symptoms or test results that one could never discover alone. "
(With additional information provided by Hisham Salah.)
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