[LMB] OT: Gender

[Katrina Allis]

On 26/11/2007, Mandos Mitchinson <mandos at allowed.to> wrote:
>
>
>
> Medicine is a lot better for women. Mens health is a barely considered
> afterthought. Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer and other predominantly female
> issues get big publicity. While there is little or no campaigns for
> Prostate
> issues. No regular checkup periods, etc. In NZ for example we have a
> National Hospital service for Women. A national hospital service for
> Children but nothing like that for men.


However, people are trying to raise awareness of prostate cancer through
Movember, for example.  Lots of men I know, both at work and socially, are
growing Mos, and while, for the most part, I personally think they look
terrible [1], I think the reason and the publicity surrounding it is
important and doing a good job.  There's been quite a lot about Movember
this year and presumably it'll only get bigger as the years go by.

My granddad had his prostate removed earlier this year, something he was
very embarassed to have to admit to needing, but he did and it's made a
difference.  He's in his late seventies, so if he can admit to it, things
must be changing!

Me, I still haven't managed to convince myself to have either a mammogram or
a smear test.  Partly embarassment and partly because they sound like they'd
*hurt* [1].  I keep telling myself it can wait until I'm having sex on a
regular basis[3].  I suppose I should get around to it soon...

Katrina

[1] My Dad lept on the occasion as an excuse to regrow his mo (he had a
beard and mo for most of my life and eventually shaved first the beard and
then the mo) which has come in ginger and silver.  For some reason, my Mum
isn't too keen on it.

[2] I have never forgotten my fifth form history teacher's description of a
mammgram she had once.  Squishing my breasts hard just sounds horribly
painful.

[3] Or a non-regular basis.  Or indeed, at all.