Latest news with #healthcheck
CNA
4 hours ago
- Health
- CNA
I'm a 51-year-old man and I'm psychologically allergic to health checks
It took my wife close to a full year to get me to turn up for my long-delayed health check-up. In that time, she tried encouraging me with soft prods, scathing threats and even abject fear-mongering – every trick in the book. When it all amounted to nothing, she booked the appointment, drove me there and dropped me off like a petulant child. Perhaps I should be slightly ashamed to admit that this was the second time in five years that my wife had had to cajole, nag, browbeat and, ultimately, schedule me into submission. This is as conceptually infuriating as it sounds, considering I'm a grown man who officially has half a century of life wisdom and experience under his belt. The truth is, I don't need to be told how important these checks are at my age. I am well aware, but annoyingly enough, I still resist. Purposely delay the inevitable. Make my wife re-strategise her approach at every turn. And as fate would have it, at the screening my wife wrestled me into doing, the doctor did detect an irregular rhythm in one of my arteries. There were tears – mostly my wife's. After all, one of her deepest fears – that I would leave this world first – was suddenly very real. More checks later revealed that my sputtering artery was the result of a combination of caffeine abuse, work stress and poor sleep habits. I am getting it sorted with follow-up checks, a revised diet plan and a crackdown on my coffee intake. STAYING ALIVE Singaporeans are living longer than ever before. Here, the average man can expect to live up to his 80s, which by any gauge is a ripe old age. Women, obviously, are expected to live longer, but only by about four to five years. I turn 51 years old this year. So, statistically speaking, if all goes well, I should have about 30 more good years before I kick the bucket. However, even with the latest finding after the check-up, I know that I will still resist the next health screening, as I have done in the past. I'm not alone, either. Research has shown that men are much more likely to delay or avoid healthcare seeking and preventive measures than women. So why do I evade these very sensible, necessary checks? In trying to rationalise and justify my own reticence, I realised that I would honestly rather not know how much of my statistically allotted 30 years I have left, because I have too many people to worry about and not enough time to worry about myself. At 41, my wife is likely fast approaching the midpoint of her own lifespan. Our three children are 12, 10 and seven. I am the sole breadwinner of the family. We live modestly – in our view, at least. One of my dearest wishes is to eventually hold in my arms a grandchild from one of my children. However, if I want that wish to become reality, I still have one heck of a salaryman journey ahead of me. As the primary working adult in my household, I have to make sure my crop of kids are provided for and I have come to terms with the fact that I may never retire per se. And all to cuddle the next generation of my family in my arms before The Imran Show finally gets cancelled. So yes, I do think about my demise – not about preparing for it or putting it off, but rather about making my remaining time count before the clock runs out. HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE? My wife's motives are simple and sincere: She wants me around longer. Her insistence on health check-ups is grounded in love, because she wants us to do what we can to catch the bad stuff early and buy ourselves more time together. I am no psychology expert, but here's my take on why this well-meaning argument isn't as effective on me as it may be on some others. Now, almost immediately, most women would exclaim, as my wife initially did, "This is ridiculous, just get checked and we'll know early if we need to get it sorted!" By that logic, the health-screening clinic would have endless lines of perfectly rational men. But, unsurprisingly if sometimes unfortunately, we men are perfectly irrational. And this is where that contentious issue of the survival mindset of the male of the species descends into a paradoxical state. I am well aware of my mortality. I also have long-term plans to provide for my dependants. So, should I pause in the middle of running the marathon to check and see how much time I have left? No. I opt to soldier on. If I go, I go, and I will not pause for any impending full stop. If and when I do go for my health check-up, there are only two scenarios that may play out. One: All is fine, we carry on and my wife restarts her five-year cycle for the next check. Two: The doctor spots an issue. Cue the crying, denial, bargaining and so on – the full five stages of grief. Hopefully, the healing starts, or maybe it is already basically game over. My wife insists I pause for the health check because of love. But in my own way, I insist on not pausing because of love as well. (DON'T FEAR) THE REAPER Life in Singapore already feels like a pressure cooker. The rising cost of living. The roughness of work. The creeping uncertainty. These things conspire to convince men like me – the sole breadwinners of our clan – that standing still just long enough for a check-up might cause everything else to fall apart. We are compelled to keep moving no matter what, not only because it defines our purpose, but because without it, what are we then? Who are we as husbands, fathers and sons if we cannot be providers? Who are we as men? In the face of all these pressures and challenges, can an average Singaporean guy in his 50s – grappling with bills, responsibilities and his own stubborn reticence – hope to hold his grandchild in the foreseeable future? Maybe I am being unreasonably optimistic, but the way I see it, this is how I want to run my own marathon. Not by looking at my feet all the time, worrying I might trip and fall, but by looking ahead to the finish line and concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other. I am not trying to outrun death. I just don't want to pause long enough to fear it.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Go for your check-ups, father with prostate cancer urges men
A father-of-three has advised men not to put off routine check-ups after his own doctor's visit revealed he had stage three prostate maker Neil Maggs, 50, told BBC Radio Bristol presenter Joe Sims he could have died within 18 months had he not had prostate removal surgery in March last year."Just go and get it done – it's better to be alive," said Mr Maggs, from Fishponds in also spoke about the physical repercussions of the operation, which he said were "a massive wake-up call", affecting his mental health and sense of identity. "If your identity is, 'I'm a man, I'm a virile man', then suddenly you're having to wear a nappy at the age of 50 and can't get an erection, it becomes like a midlife crisis," he said. Symptoms of prostate cancer do not usually appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine, according to the disease tends to affect over-50s, and although there is not a definitive test for it, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test can indicate whether cancer is the cancer is slow-growing, it can be there for decades before it is presenter Dermot Murnaghan, cyclist Chris Hoy and former US President Joe Biden are all living with prostate Maggs said he was convinced into going for a routine check-up for over-40s in January 2024, after telling a nurse he urinated later had to have a biopsy – which he described as "arguably the worst part" of his experience."The needle to numb you, it felt like someone was squeezing my balls, and punching me in the face at the same time," he said. The diagnosis came back within a week. "The moment I knew was when the nurse came out and bowed her head."I was basically near to stage four, on stage three and a half – stage four is basically fatal where you need palliative care and you will die from it," he the time his surgery was scheduled, he had "fallen into a sense of thinking, 'this could be it'"."I was kind of ready for the possibility," he said. "I wanted to be present and be with my family – it's a feeling that's kind of stayed with me." 'Moments that get you' But Mr Maggs, whose children are 13, nine and eight, said nothing could have prepared him for the mental struggle after the prostate removal surgery."For some men who have never faced their demons, it's a massive wake-up call," he said after the operation "there are moments that can get you". "I was less prepared for that," he said. "Your testosterone is less so there is a physical thing that affects your mental health."Mr Maggs said "quite a few of my mates and family have had a check-up" following his diagnosis and surgery. He now has a PSA check every two months and has been told his current levels and prognosis are both good.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Comedian Fred MacAulay reveals prostate cancer diagnosis
Comedian Fred MacAulay has revealed he has been diagnosed with prostate 68-year-old previously told how he had been getting regular checks since his father and brother were both diagnosed with the - who presented his own BBC Scotland radio show for 18 years until 2015 - said the cancer had been spotted at a "very early" insisted he was determined not to let the diagnosis get him down and hoped that speaking out would encourage other men to get tested. He told The Courier: "I'm putting my trust in my doctors, and comforting myself in the knowledge that I've been diagnosed very early which means I should have the best chance for a good outcome."Macaulay's father, who was also called Fred, died at the age of 73 in 2002 after years of battling prostate cancer and said: "It was the mesothelioma which got Dad in the end, he worked on the railways and was exposed to asbestos and all kinds of nasty stuff before he became a policeman until he retired."But when my brother Duncan, who is 72 now, was diagnosed with prostate cancer eight years ago, I thought it was about time I took the hint and got checked out."I'm lucky enough to be able to get the incredibly accurate MRI tests which can show things up quickly." MacAulay - who has been a regular guest on TV comedy shows such as Have I Got News For You and QI - is a long-time campaigner for prostate cancer said: "It's always been a scary thing to talk about, but with all the progress in medicine the best thing to do is be aware, get tested and catch it quickly as it gives you the best possible chance of beating it."In the UK, about one in eight men will get prostate cancer in their mainly affects men over 50, with the risk increasing with are higher for men with a family history of prostate cancer.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Cycling grandad 'grateful' to be alive after heart rate skyrocketed
A 74-year-old grandad who had an alarming wake-up call when his heart rate skyrocketed while cycling has said he is "so grateful" to be enjoying the sport again after being fitted with a life-saving medical Cookson from Lancashire had been training at the Manchester Velodrome when he fainted, and later discovered he had a serious heart condition. "I came off and looked at my sports watch which read 'new heart rate record – 238 bpm' and I thought 'oh, that's not good'. And it wasn't going down," he Cookson has since been fitted with a implantable defibrillator to prevent future episodes and told other cyclists "if you get the opportunity for a health check, take it". Mr Cookson, a former head of British and world cycling bodies, saw his heart rate hit 238 beats per minute after the training session in Manchester in said: "I was cycling and started feeling strange. I didn't know if I was in a dream, if I was asleep – then I hit the floor."The veteran rider fainted and had to wait about 15 minutes for his heart rate to return to normal. At the time of his collapse, he had been fitted with a heart monitor as he was one of 108 men taking part in a study of the hearts of older male endurance athletes. 'Stop riding' Researches from the University of Leeds were able to record exactly what was happening to his heart during the incident, and warned him to immediately stop said: "The next day, I got a call. They said, 'Stop riding your bike, don't do anything more strenuous than walking until we can get you in here because we think you need an ICD [implantable cardioverter defibrillator].'"It was revealed he needed the device because he had experienced ventricular tachycardia, an abnormally fast heartbeat where the ventricles do not pump blood around the body effectively, which can lead to cardiac arrest. Mr Cookson has since returned to cycling after being fitted with the implantable defibrillator, which will shock his heart if an abnormal rhythm reoccurs. The university's study found nearly half of older male endurance athletes over 50 had scarring in their hearts which increased the risk of these episodes. Dr Peter Swoboda led the British Heart Foundation-funded study and said the results "shouldn't put people off regular exercise" as the study focused on a select group and not all had scarring. He said: "In our study, the athletes who experienced dangerous heart rhythms often had symptoms first."I'd encourage anyone who experiences blackouts, dizziness, chest pain or breathlessness, whether during sport or at rest, to speak to their doctor and get it checked out."Mr Cookson said: "When I started out in cycling, people thought that taking part in endurance sport would as good as guarantee your heart would stay healthy. "Over the past few years, we've learnt that it's not quite that simple." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Ryan was a healthy young family man when he went for a routine check-up. Then the unthinkable happened
A young Queensland politician has been given a devastating cancer diagnosis after a routine check-up - despite having no concerning symptoms. Brisbane City councillor Ryan Murphy was diagnosed at 36 with prostate cancer - a condition that rarely affects men under the age of 50. In Australia, less than 2 per cent of men aged under 49 are diagnosed with prostate cancer – but the public servant said it was 'just his luck' to be among the minority, with the average age of diagnosis being 70. The dad said he only discovered his diagnosis in April this year - purely by chance. It all started when the politician embarked on a self-initiated health kick, inspired by the arrival of his first child, a daughter named Elodie, with wife Emma Yabsley in 2021. 'I thought, "Well, I'm in my mid-30s, this is a good midlife health check in point, just to see how things are tracking",' Ryan told FEMAIL. With no alarming symptoms, Ryan booked an appointment with his GP, expecting nothing more than a routine health check-up with innocuous results. Just days later, he received the worst news imaginable: stage two prostate cancer. The shock of the 'out-of-the-blue' diagnosis hit Ryan on many levels - the biggest being that he had zero symptoms and nothing at all to indicate prostate cancer. Before his soul-crushing diagnosis, Ryan said his first round of blood tests in 2024 revealed higher cholesterol levels, which he admitted were likely due to an average diet and inconsistent exercise habits. So, he immediately set about losing a few kilos before returning for a follow-up appointment with his GP. At the next check-up, the GP asked Ryan to repeat the blood test and provided a new referral. Crucially, the doctor added a 'PSA' test - which measures prostate-specific antigens. Given Ryan's age, the PSA test wasn't ordered out of concern that he had prostate cancer, but simply to provide a baseline result for future reference. With no unusual symptoms and a busy life juggling work and a young family, the politician said he promptly filed the blood test referral in his car's glove box and forgot all about it. It was only months later, while cleaning his car, that he rediscovered it. 'I found the scrunched-up pathology form and almost threw it out. But I decided not to – and later went and did the blood test, mostly just so I could get rid of the referral paper,' he said. Two days later, Ryan received the unexpected news from his doctor confirming that while he'd successfully lowered his cholesterol levels, his PSA results had come back exceptionally high. The doctor said Ryan's PSA was 'at 11 when the number should be under two'. A follow-up MRI scan and specialist appointment confirmed the dreaded news that he had late stage two prostate cancer. Naturally, the other surprise was Ryan's age. Although prostate cancer is highly prevalent, with one in six Aussies diagnosed in their lifetime, it typically affects much older men. At the time of speaking to FEMAIL, Ryan was still in the process of meeting with his oncologist to decide the best course of action, which he believes will involve surgery. But the dad is holding off for now until his wife, who is currently pregnant with their second child, gives birth to their new baby in upcoming months. After that, he'll resume an active course of cancer treatment. The prostate cancer diagnosis has been a 'light bulb' moment for Ryan, who believed his new 'priority' is to ensure he is well and healthy for his growing family. 'After any cancer diagnosis, you find yourself asking whether you've spent every day prior to that correctly, and what you're spending your time on [in the future],' he said. The public servant added that he's also adopted a number of lifestyle changes, which includes more often eating plant-based foods, reducing alcohol intake, undertaking periods of fasting and continuing his weight loss efforts. But the informal and disjointed chain of events that led to Ryan's diagnosis raised alarm bells, prompting the politician to question the current system in place for diagnosing prostate cancer. 'There are men who are in "health literate" postcodes, who see the same doctor and get tested regularly – so their prostate cancer is picked up early on and successfully treated,' Ryan said. 'Then there's men who live in postcodes where it's difficult to access medical services or MRI's - and they're not getting tested. That's inequitable.' The Queensland councillor speculated that many other potential diagnoses could be missed by men who weren't as proactive about their health as he was. 'The thing I learnt after talking to other people diagnosed with prostate cancer is just how haphazard our system of diagnosing this type of cancer' Ryan said. In his role as a politician, Ryan believes a prostate cancer national register of PSA test results is easily achievable given the current Australian health care 'infrastructure', diagnostic technology and testing facilities are all already in place. 'This is just about coordinating it, which will place a safety net around those men who are not going to be proactively having medical check ups. ' Until then, the dad urges men to simply make an appointment with their GP and request a blood test that includes a PSA reading, so that they can start getting a baseline level reading. 'Have your doctor add it onto your next blood test and then you'll get your PSA and know your number. Then, you can check back in again later in life and just see if it's moving.' The young politician is campaigning to fix a broken cancer screening system, aiming to ensure others don't slip through the cracks. It's something that's also been top of mind for leading Brisbane urologist, Dr Peter Heathcote. The former President of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand is in full support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia's current call for a national prostate cancer screening register of PSA test results. This would be similar to other the national register systems currently in place to track breast and bowel cancer screenings. Dr Heathcote said that despite prostate cancer being 'very common', it had somehow been overlooked for a formalised national screening program register. The highly publicised recent diagnosis of former US president Joe Biden, 83, reconfirmed presumptions that 'age is a high-risk factor for prostate cancer'. However, Dr Heathcote said awareness of prostate cancer needs to start far earlier, with the proposed screening register recommending that all men aged over 50 regularly monitor their PSA levels. Furthermore, he noted that some groups of men are at an 'increased risk' of prostate cancer - including those with a family history of the disease. 'For example, if you've had a father or a brother diagnosed with prostate cancer at a younger age, your risk of getting clinically significant prostate cancer doubles,' said Dr Heathcote. 'There's also a relative increase when there's familial syndromes like BRCA2, which is typically is associated with breast and ovarian cancer. The medical practitioner underlines the fact that diagnosing prostate cancer at an early stage is crucial to the prospects of a successful treatment outcome. However, with no signs or symptoms present early on, 'the only way to diagnose prostate cancer when it's at an early curable stage is after an initial PSA blood test'. This test is then followed up by an MRI and potentially also a biopsy to confirm the cancer. Currently, the only way that prostate cancer is being caught at an early stage is through sporadic blood tests – like how Ryan's diagnosis came about. When PSA levels aren't being regularly monitored, Dr Heathcote says that unfortunately prostate cancer is more often only discovered when it's quite advanced once classic symptoms emerge, such as 'urgency and frequency of urination and the big red flag of blood in the urine.' This is why the medical expert along with the politician are advocating alongside the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia for the introduction of a national screening register to improve the chances of catching the disease sooner than later. Without a formal prostate cancer screening problem, Dr Heathcote notes there's great 'health inequality' between those that regularly see a doctor and those that don't. The screening register currently being lobbied will recommend men over the age of 50 have a PSA blood level check at least every two years. This age would lower to over 40 for men in higher risk groups. Dr Heathcote added that there's even a tangible financial incentive for adopting a formal screening register, explaining that prostate cancer is the most expensive cancer in Australia, with the cost of treating it at over $500 million a year.
