Why are men reluctant to seek medical advice?

THE reason prostate cancer figures are so high (Mail) is because older men think going to the loo two or three times in the night is normal. There aren’t many other symptoms to alert them that there is a danger of cancer. Even with symptoms, men are reluctant to seek advice because of the rectal examination that is required. So they tend to ignore the signs unless nagged. Many men are reluctant to seek medical advice because of not wanting to bother their GP. To all men I say, if in doubt, get it checked out!

RONALD BALL, Farnborough, Hants. IS IT sexual discrimination that less than half the research funding is spent on prostate cancer compared with breast cancer? Yes, so why not complain to the minister for men? Sorry, only women are allowed to have their own minister.

Name supplied, Liss, Hants.

I HAVE been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, and I applaud the Daily Mail for drawing attention to this disease. Raising the public’s awareness will save lives and boost funding for research. However, in my case, an MRI scan did not reveal the disease, which was only picked up by the biopsy. I would like to reassure other men that the biopsy is not painful, but only mildly uncomfortable, so they should not be put off having this essential procedure.

J. DAVIS, Rotherfield, E. Sussex. AS A one-time prostate cancer sufferer, it doesn’t surprise me the disease kills more men than women with breast cancer. Since I had my prostate removed a decade ago, I’ve repeatedly read ‘most men with prostate cancer will die of something else before dying from the disease’. Piffle! This only relates to the slow-developing form of this cancer. There are two other kinds: moderately progressive and aggressive cancers. The only defence for men is to have regular blood tests and monitoring.

M. BLIGH, Sittingbourne, Kent.