www.independent.ie
(http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/irish-men-treating-cars-better-than-their-bodies-warnscancer-expert-29059178.html)
Irish Men treating cars better than their bodies, warns cancer
expert
JEROME REILLY – 10 FEBRUARY 2013
Irish men are dying because they treat their cars better than their bodies, according to one of the
world's foremost experts on prostate cancer.
Professor Roger Kirby, a prostate surgeon in the UK, and Professor of Urology in the
University of London says men's health is more than just "beer guts and baldness".
He told an audience of more than 200 surgeons at the Royal College of Surgeons in
Ireland (RCSI) annual surgical conference that most men tend to look after their cars
better than their own health and live by the old adage 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
In an interview with the Sunday Independent he said that in the years he has
travelled to Ireland he has seen a dramatic change in the shape of Irish men.
"To put it bluntly, they have got a lot fatter. I am surprised that so many are carrying
so much weight around the middle," he said.
"Men's health is more than just beer guts and baldness, but it is often ignored. This is
causing men to die, on average, five years younger than women. Men have a higher
rate of mortality from cancer than women; they tend to drink and smoke longer and
should they try to commit suicide, they are more likely to succeed than women," he
said
"Men are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease, but hardly ever get screened
for it, they get more sexually transmitted infections than women and they are more
affected by stress. These facts show that being a man is a significant health risk. It is
time to close the gender gap," he declared.
He believes one of the key problems is the male hormone testosterone.
"The trouble with men is probably linked to testosterone, which causes men to be
aggressive, competitive, risk-takers, over-indulgent and afraid to show weakness."
He advocates a new lifestyle for Irish men based around the acronym 'PLACE'. "Men
need to follow five rules: portion control, lose the booze, axe the snacks, cut the
carbs and exercise daily to increase their quality of life and life expectancy", Prof
Kirby said.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in Ireland, with more
than 2800 cases diagnosed per year. This is higher than the rate of breast cancer.