The news that King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer after his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate serves as a timely reminder of the importance of regular health checks as we get older.
Although the type of cancer the monarch has is undisclosed and not necessarily related to the prostate, health checks and simple medical procedures can often reveal other potentially more serious conditions. And of course the earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chance of successful treatment.
For men, the prostate is a gland that should be monitored as you get older, as approximately 24,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Around 3500 of those will die from it.
Australian football legend Ted Whitten died from prostate cancer in 1995 after ignoring warning signs over a long period of time. He was just 62 years old. More recently former Australia Test cricketer Tim May spoke of his regret at skipping scheduled ‘PSA’ tests. May was diagnosed with prostate cancer that could have been treated much earlier had he had testing done earlier.
For women, breast cancer provides comparable statistics. Each year around 20,000 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer, of which around 3200 will lose their lives. Breast awareness and early detection remain keys to timely and successful treatment.
Regardless of gender, paying attention to your body and general health as you age could deliver you a longer and healthier life. Don’t skip that next check-up!
Have you experienced unusual prostate or breast symptoms? What steps did you take?
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