I asked a room of our survivors what they would say if they had the podium and the room was filled with family doctors.  Here are the key points they wanted to make….

 

• Ask men about their diets.  Virtually everybody said their doctors never talked to them about eating healthy and they are cancer survivors so the opportunities were plentiful!  You’re perfectly positioned to influence a massive numbers of men to make positive changes in their diets!  Tell men how important the role diet plays in their health and provide them with the resources they need to make key positive changes.
• Ask men about their exercise habits or lack of.  Again virtually everybody said their doctors never talked to them about importance of working out!  And you know ever so well, that men eating a good diet combined with regular exercise will lead to them feeling better and living longer lives while needing fewer medications.
• Treat the whole person.  We’re all super busy, but taking the time to get to know each other more will lead to improving the care they get.  Knowing them better will increase men’s willingness to head your important advice.
• Assume your men aren’t up to date on what they need to be screened for nor want to be and are counting on you to give them a complete check up.  And trust me this group wants you to give the men who do get in our little club the gift of early detection.  So get your PSA screening numbers up!

 

Then I asked that same room of survivors what they would say if they had the podium and the room was full of men from all lines of work, all ages and all states of health.  Here is what they wanted every man to know…

 

• Don’t wait till your in pain and see your physician only for immediate relief.  That’s what a majority of men have been doing for years and it’s not working for us!  Be proactive and always get an annual check-up.  You don’t wait till your car is dead on the side of the road to fix issues you know about.  Treat your body better than your car.
• When you do see your doctor be prepared.  Log the types of issues your having and write down the questions you would like answered.  Take the time to make sure everything you wrote down was covered before saying thank you and good bye.
• Don’t assume you know your family history.  Ask, document and share your family history to verify its accuracy and to help your entire family with this gift.  Being proactive versus reactive can make all the difference in the world.  Many issues including prostate cancer are frequently hereditary and keeping this a secret has lead to men they loved dying before their time
• Be honest for a change.  Just admit it, guy’s are wimpy not tough.  We have been raised to rub some dirt on our wounds and pretend like things are fine, but that only works on little boys.  Men need to open up and tell those caring for them what is really going on.  Identifying a problem early allows experts to nip big issues in the bud versus waiting till they turn into big unsolvable one’s.

 

Men and doctors, the time is now to open up and forge a more open and healthier path forward!