Men urged to have regular check ups
Peter Hickey has had two close encounters with cancer in six years. In 2010 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had a prostatectomy, and then about three years ago he was diagnosed with melanoma and had a chunk cut out of his left shoulder.
Now he’s the Prostate Cancer Foundation Taranaki coordinator and wants men to be proactive about their health.
‘‘Men over the age of 40 need to have regular checks with their GP to determine whether they may have prostate cancer,’’ he said.
‘‘For melanoma it’s certainly recommended that people have regular checks with either the mole mapping or the skin clinics.’’
Hickey said prostate cancer can be difficult to pick up.
‘‘I had probably one of the typical systems and that was a regular need to go to the toilet, getting up during the night to go to the toilet. That’s when I decided to go to the GP.’’
Men are less inclined to go to the doctor and talk about their personal issues than women.
‘‘I think it’s imperative that men to take a proactive approach in getting to the doctor. Early detection is much more effective than waiting.’’
Hickey facilitates the monthly Men Can Talk group held at the Taranaki Cancer Society.
‘‘When I first was diagnosed I heard from the Cancer Society about this support group. I found it really helpful,’’ he said.
He took over the group when the opportunity arose assisted by his experience in group facilitation in his career as a counsellor at the Taranaki Base Hospital.
‘‘It was important for me. I felt a need to do that.’’
Hickey has noticed, although the group runs all year around, more men attend in the summer time.
‘‘Men don’t often want to talk about their personal issues.’’
Each year about 3000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 600 die from it.
One in 10 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
‘‘It’s the most common cancer that men have in New Zealand and the third most common cause of death by cancer in men,’’ he said.
For more information contact the Cancer Society on 757 3006, ring Peter Hickey on 021 162 1334 or email peterhickey@xtra.co.nz.