UPDATE - Issue 04 - November 1999
Time for Government action
Editorial
Men are notoriously bad at going to the doctor for a checkup or when they exhibit symptoms. It's just part of the ageing process; It's not serious; I cannot spare the time off work; There is nothing they can do anyway. These are all part of the male denial process. And all this is doubly true if the symptoms are below the waist and not in the legs!
The Department of Health has pushed over the years (and been pushed by women) into raising the issues of health amongst women and notably amongst the over 50s age group. The same cannot be said of men (who are their own worst enemies, in that there are few if any lobby groups of men). And yet the need to raise awareness amongst men that early presentation of symptoms to a GP is the assured way to increased health and quality of life and leads towards a longer life span is arguably greater for men than for women.
Whilst drug companies, charities and academics all make a major contribution to research funding and activity so that progress is made despite (scandalous) lack of Government funding the same is not true of awareness campaigns. These are 100% down to Government. Is it not time to ask the Department of Health what it is doing about this?