I've watched the silliness of pink golf clubs and golf balls
on PGA pros, pink shoes and towels on NFL players, pink penalty flags in the
pockets of the NFL referees—well, that one only lasted a week, since it caused
so much confusion on the field—complete pink outfits on PGA golfer Ricky Fowler
and even pink products, like 5-Hour Energy.
I won't apologize for making light of this farce. After all, breast cancer, while a serious
problem, is not as pervasive as prostate cancer in men, and which month is it
that we herald Prostate Cancer Awareness?
And come to think of it, HOW do we show our support for PCA? Baby blue golf clubs, NFL apparel, penalty
flags, and on and on?
Why can't we men have our own cause célèbre? Is it really more important for the ladies
to "save the ta-tas" than it is for men to ... (well, let's not get
too graphic here) The fact is, though,
that prostate cancer kills about the same number of men as breast cancer kills
women, yet breast cancer research and awareness gets four times as much funding
as prostate cancer.
Hey, I've got an idea... lets make the prostate cancer
awareness symbol a pair of blue walnuts.
After all, they always describe the prostate gland as being,
"...about the size of a walnut."
What could be more American male than a pair of blue nuts?
While we're on the subject, why is it that, if breast cancer
awareness is so important, the scheduling
of mammograms has now been scaled back?
In case you're too busy (or lazy) to click on the link, here is a
summary of the changes recommended by the USPSTF, a.k.a. United States
Preventive Services Task Force:
- Routine screening of average-risk women should begin at age 50, not age 40.
- Routine screening should end at age 74.
- Women should get screening mammograms every two years instead of annually.
- Breast self-exams have little value, based on findings from several large studies.
That
last one is really a bummer, because when it comes to palpating the breast, we
guys are always more than happy to volunteer and assist.
I
cannot leave the subject without one more piece of sarcastic humor. Here is my favorite cartoon on the
mammogram/manogram dilemma...
Okay,
all kidding aside, do whatever it takes to get screened periodically for any
form of cancer, but especially for these two killers. Early detection is critical to cure rates.
