New Macmillan analysis reveals almost half of men in their 30s wait for health problems to simply go away

Ahead of Men’s Health Week (9th to 15th June), Macmillan Cancer Support, talkSPORT and Greene King are working in partnership with show sponsor Toolstation to highlight the importance of men talking about their health, tackling stigma around topics like cancer and health checks.

For one afternoon only on Friday 6th June, talkSPORT’s popular Hawksbee and Jacobs programme will swap the talkSPORT studio for Greene King pub The George for a special one-off event to encourage conversations around men’s health.

As part of this partnership, Macmillan has carried out new analysis discovering worrying evidence that men in their 30s are one of the groups most at risk of neglecting their health.

Almost half (48%) of men in their 30s say they wait for health problems to go away rather than treat them — twice as many compared with men in their 60s or over (27%)[1]. This approach goes against expert advice and can lead to late detection of serious health issues, or further health problems and even death in some cases, the charity is warning.

Indeed, according to the same analysis of adults across Great Britain, 51% of men in their 30s say they don’t care about themselves as much as they should because of a busy lifestyle[2].

Naman Julka-Anderson is a 31-year-old Advanced Therapeutic Radiographer and a Macmillan Allied Health Professional who has lived experience of depression. He said: “When you are young you think you are invincible but having experienced depression in my 20s and 30s, I no longer feel like that. I resisted help when I was struggling with my mental health, I felt my work meant I was too busy and I felt embarrassed about how I was feeling, even contemplating suicide.

“As time progressed, I sought help. I have a young son now and do not want him to get to my age, feeling he must bottle everything up and pretend he is fine if he isn’t. Career can be important, but it is not as important as your mental and physical wellbeing.

“The trauma of working through Covid compounded my depression; I still can’t talk about that period without getting emotional. To witness so much death and suffering, as a young male healthcare professional it was assumed you would be okay. But I wasn’t okay; I believe we have to care for the carers too so they can look after the rest.”

Now 31, Ryan Collard, a primary school teacher in Aylesbury, who is originally from the North East of England, was diagnosed with aggressive stage 3 testicular cancer at just 23. He said: “Although diagnosed in my early twenties I can now fully understand why people, especially men my age would prioritise careers and busy lives over their health.

“In your 30s, often, your career is reaching a peak. Men in particular can get bogged down in their own pride and expectation of outdated perceptions of the man as the main bread winner. Its only with the benefit of hindsight that I can step away, as someone with a cancer experience giving me the right perspective.

“As a 23-year-old I was initially not taken seriously when discussing some of my symptoms. I worried it may be prostate cancer and when I aired this, I was dismissed by the GP, she said ‘you’re far too young for cancer’, and laughed. She probably thought she was making me feel better, but I still remember the intense embarrassment. It took several visits and for my symptoms of back pain and numbness down the right side of my body, which then quickly accelerated to increased pain and being rendered unconscious, before I was eventually diagnosed with Choriocarcinoma [a type of testicular cancer].”

Despite the odds, after his successful treatment, Ryan and his wife Sophie went on to have their year-old son. Due to their experiences Ryan, together with his twin brother Sean who endured his own cancer journey, started a men’s health Instagram page called Cancer Lads as a support group for men with cancer.

“It was only when I met other men who had a similar lived experience I felt really able to talk freely and feel properly understood. That is why I started an Instagram account. Talking to like-minded people released a lot of emotions and I wanted others to have that opportunity.”

For free emotional, financial, and practical information and support for living with a cancer diagnosis, listeners can reach out to Macmillan Cancer Support. People are just a call, message or click away from a trusted specialist on its Support Line, open 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. Alternatively, visit the Macmillan website, or go to the Online Community for peer-to-peer support. Or, once registered, Macmillan’s free Macmillan Buddy Service can match people with a volunteer who understands what they’re going through and give them a weekly phone call.

To listen in to Friday’s special edition of the Hawksbee & Jacobs talkSPORT show download the talkSPORT app or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Acast.

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