Men too rare in cancer screening

Low readiness for cancer screening in men

06/22/2011

Men apparently neglect cancer screening more often than women. The Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) comes to this conclusion when evaluating the insurance data from the year 2010. Only 26 percent of men over the age of 45 were in the early detection of cancer last year, reports the TK. At least 59 percent of women were women. Early detection can significantly reduce the health risks of cancer, as the tumors are far more treatable if detected at an early stage of disease, the experts explained when presenting their report.

Although the health insurance companies would pay a cancer check-up per year for men over the age of 45, only about one in four people use this offer, said the Techniker Krankenkasse. Only 26 percent of the men were in the past year in the early detection of cancer. In the case of women, at least 59 percent have taken advantage of the health insurance funds. However, appropriate check-ups in women are already taken over from the age of 20 by the coffers, so that the willingness to check-ups here in the early years „trained“ becomes.

Gender Differences in Cancer Screening
According to the Techniker Krankenkasse, only 26 percent of men over the age of 45 participated in cancer screening in the past year due to various causes. Thus, 61 percent of the men surveyed indicated that they do not use the early detection offer, because they go to the doctor only in the case of an existing illness. 39 percent of men are uncomfortable with the investigation and 32 percent do not want to deal with the serious diseases, reports the TK. In addition, 29 percent said that they have not yet thought about early detection. As multiple answers were possible, respondents could provide several justifications for not having early cancer detection. In male cancer screening, the external genitalia, the prostate and the skin are examined for possible signs of cancer. For women, breast cancer screening is one of the essential screening measures.

Willingness to cancer prevention regional highly variable
The Techniker Krankenkasse has identified not only the gender-specific differences in readiness for medical check-up but also clear regional differences. Thus, the population in the city states of Bremen, Berlin and Hamburg is obviously particularly prepared for precaution. In Bremen, 33 percent of men and 75 percent of women participated in cancer screening in the past year, in Berlin 27 percent of men and 64 percent of women and in Hamburg 29 percent of men and 65 percent of women. The worst was the readiness for precaution among the men in Brandenburg, the Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein with in each case 21 per cent, reports the technician health insurance. According to the experts, women are generally more willing to take preventive examinations, at least in part due to the fact that early detection measures are already being financed by the health insurance funds from the age of 20 years. (Fp)

Also read:
Breast cancer: Prevent costs better precaution?
Married people pay more attention to precaution
Heart attack is a typical male disease
Internists: health care from 35 necessary

Picture: Sigrid Rossmann