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Old 17-05-2005, 14:32   #23
lettie
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Re: Kylie's breast cancer.

Breast screening is automatic in this country after the age of 50 unless there is a strong family history (mother, sisters etc). It is still relatively unusual for breast cancer to be diagnosed earlier than that. The treatment for breast cancer is improving steadily and women continue to push for improvement due to high profile campaigns and high profile cases such as Kylie.

There is a discrepancy in cancer care in this country where men seem to come off the worst. Unless you push for treatment and ask for second opinions and generally make a nuisance of yourself to your doctor, especially if you are young, then you may get fobbed off. Men may act like they are on their death beds when faced with a common cold but unfortunately when seriously ill they tend not to make much fuss. That was my experience of looking after men on a surgical ward where many would come in with cancers so advanced that they were literally an 'open and shut' case.

The media have been trying to redress the balance by informing young men about how to self examine for cancers, especially testicular. Mags like FHM often contain these kind of health pages, you just have to leaf through pages of semi-clad women and motorbikes to find them.

I would agree that someone's medical problems are private and confidential no matter who they are, but it is only through publicising such issues that awareness is raised. I would advise anyone young or old not to panic and be rushing off to the GP in hysterics. Be sensible, check yourself for unusual lumps and bumps as part of a routine (including fellas) and get to know your own body. If you are worried then contact your doc.
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