Melanoma Canada

Did you know that men under 49 are more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer than any other form of cancer? 

During the month of June, Melanoma Canada celebrated ‘Men’s Health Month, inviting others to help raise awareness for these preventable health issues facing men and promote ways men and boys can improve their health going forward.  

An estimated 70% of chronic health conditions in men are classified as preventable and Canadian men, on average, can expect to live for 4 years fewer than women. Unfortunately, this is largely due to lifestyle factors, such as delaying routine check-ups and screenings as well as not being informed of potential health risk factors and abstaining from self-care.  

60 percent of men don’t regularly see a doctor unless they’re seriously ill and 80% of men refuse to see a physician until they are convinced by their spouse or partner to do so.  

These poor lifestyle choices all contribute to the onset of preventable illnesses and cause later diagnoses in men leading to more severe outcomes. Unlike most cancers, melanomas are often visible on the surface of the skin so individuals are able to perform monthly skin-check evaluations for suspicious skin concerns using the ABCDE’s. However, men continue to self-check less than half of melanomas and are still less likely to use sun protection than women.

 In the year 2020 alone, 450 women and 790 men died from melanoma 

To highlight the importance of early-detection and other healthy practices for men and boys, we launched a Men’s Health Month blog.. The blog showcased Men’s Health Month patient stories and helped convey the gap between men’s and women’s health. Specifically, our blog discussed gender differences when it comes to prioritising healthy behaviors in everyday life such as getting regular check-ups from your physician. To gain more insight on men’s health behaviors, we also sent out a survey evaluating sun safety and early detection practices.  

Check out a summary of the survey results below: 

Men’s Results 

Women’s Results 

As can be seen in the survey results above, 62% of women perform skin-checks every month compared to only 53% of men.  This illustrates how women are still more likely than men to regularly self-check at the recommended 1-month interval.

Sign up in the form below for our monthly skin-check reminders. 

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Men’s Results 

Women’s results (and non-gender)  

As seen in the results above, 12% of men and 18% of women reapply sunscreen at the recommended 2-hour intervals. The higher rates of not wearing or reapplying sunscreen regularly highlight the need for greater awareness of effective sun safety guidelines.

For more information on how to be sun safe

https://www.melanomanetwork.ca/skincancerprevention/

Following Men’s Health Month, we invite you to join us in encouraging men and boys to invest in their health through practicing sun safety and checking for skin cancer early when it’s most treatable. Join us in raising awareness for health issues facing men and prioritizing immediate action when it comes to your health! 

This can include talking to your healthcare provider about going for regular check-ups, being informed of potential health risks and safety precautions, and signing up for our monthly check your skin reminders.  

https://www.melanomanetwork.ca/melanomadetection/