Young men need to build an ongoing relationship with health professionals

Younger Australian males are being urged to use Men’s Health Week to take charge of their own health.

Doctors and health advocates are urging younger Australian males to use Men’s Health Week as an opportunity to build a relationship with health professionals and get themselves checked out regularly.

The theme of this year’s international initiative is Building Healthy Environments for Men and Boys and Dr Lane Hinchcliffe, founder of the South Australian health service Community GP, says young people in particular will benefit immeasurably from familiarising themselves with the system in the event that they need it.

“The key message for me in Men’s Health Week is to empower people to take charge of their health and become aware of their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing,” he says. “And if they don’t have a health practitioner, to engage with somebody that they feel comfortable with, because that relationship is going to be a really fundamental partnership moving forward, if things do arise.”

Hinchcliffe says that younger men in particular can feel a sense of invincibility and this – coupled with busy lifestyles and an Australian ‘she’ll be right’ mentality – can mean they don’t seek medical advice when they should. Early detection is so important for so many conditions, from mental health issues to cancer, and Hinchcliffe advises vigilance for symptoms and regular check-ups even when there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong.

In addition, changes in sleeping, eating or toilet patterns and mental exhaustion can be markers of something more serious.

Young men need to find a health practitioner they feel comfortable with, because that relationship could be a really fundamental partnership moving forward. Picture: iStock

“It’s about being a little bit cautious and actually saying it’s OK to check something out and as a matter of fact, it’s important to not just leave it and assume everything’s going to be fine,” he says.

Hugo Toovey, a 30-year-old Army Captain and founder of 25 STAY ALIVE, was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 21, bowel cancer at 26, and recently with Crohn’s disease. When he is not working as the Command Welfare Officer at Headquarters Forces Command in Sydney, he spends his time sharing his story and raising awareness. He is an Ambassador for Movember & Gotcha4Life, and he hosts the mental health podcast Behind the Uniform.

“Although it has been a difficult journey, I believe I have been given a unique opportunity to make the best of a bad situation and use what I have gone through to help others,” he says. “If I have learnt anything, it is the importance early detection. Men especially need to realise that they aren’t invincible. Something like cancer and mental illness doesn’t discriminate, and I am living proof of that.”

Since sharing his story, Toovey realised that there were so many other young people out there who had been affected by cancer and urges young Australians to look out for their health from an earlier age.

Cancer survivor and health advocate Hugo Toovey.

“There seems to be so much emphasis on our health when we turn 50, almost as though that’s when we should start taking it seriously. But why 50? When I got diagnosed with testicular cancer at only 21, I knew nothing about testicular cancer. Yet testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 15-34. When I got diagnosed with bowel cancer at 26, I knew nothing about bowel cancer … yet bowel cancer kills more Australian’s aged 25-34 than any other cancer.”

Hinchcliffe says sharing experiences like Toovey’s is crucial in raising awareness around health in young people, to warn them of potential hazards but also to let them know they are not alone.

“I think those real stories really help people to relate and that’s what we need to focus a lot more on in Health Week, actually telling stories and letting people know that there are cases where things don’t always go to plan and then just giving them strategies on how to deal with them.”

Want to hear more about Hugo’s journey? Join the conversation here: https://watch.cuppa.tv/

HUGO’S 5 MESSAGES TO HELP YOUNG MEN STAY ALIVE

Hugo Toovey.

A – Act on symptoms

– Early detection

– Know your normal

* Common bowel cancer symptoms include bleeding, change in bowel habits for longer than 2 weeks, abdominal pains, unexplained fatigue and tiredness, unexplained weight loss

* Common testicular cancer symptoms include lump in either testicle, feeling of heaviness in the scrotum

L – Look after yourself

– Prevention

– Be healthy and active

– Mental fitness

I – Identify your risks

– Age

– Pre-existing medical conditions

– Family History

V – Visit your GP

– When did you last see your GP?

– Having annual check-ups should be the norm

– We shouldn’t fear going to the doctor

E – Express your emotions

– Self-awareness

– Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable conversations

– There is no shame in seeking help!