Cancer screening men often take precautions

Men are less likely to take cancer care than women

20/11/2014

Men rarely go to cancer screening. This resulted in an evaluation of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). Thus, only one in four men over 45 years (27 percent) uses the possibility of cancer screening. Men are entitled to the examination annually from this age. In contrast, at least 60 percent of women regularly go to their gynecologist.

Men should go to cancer screening on a regular basis
„I should pay more attention to my health“, Doctors frequently hear when men reappear in practice for the first time after a few years. Most of the complaints are then already very pronounced. However, in the case of serious conditions such as cancer, early diagnosis can determine life and death. On the occasion of the International Men's Day, the TK therefore expresses the free cancer prevention.

In a recent survey by the opinion research institute Forsa on behalf of the TK, for which German-speaking people aged 18 and over were surveyed in 2001, 72 percent of men admitted that they could do more for their health. Only 28 percent said they had sufficient health care.

In 2011, 61 percent of male TC insured people avoided cancer care because they only went to the doctor when they were ill. 39 percent did not use the early detection because they found the examination unpleasant. One in three stated that he did not want to deal with serious illnesses. 29 percent said they had not thought about cancer screening.

Women are more critical of the doctor than men
Although most women go to cancer screening regularly, but find the doctor of their faith more difficult. „Women are more attentive to their health and are therefore more likely to be with the doctor than men. According to Heiko Schulz, a psychologist at TK, they are more critical of the experts. ". „Men, on the other hand, expect the doctor to provide a service that can be done quickly and reliably - similar to that of a craftsman. "(Ag)