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Many serious conditions develop silently for years, making routine screening one of the most effective lifesaving tools available.
It's OK to not be OK
“I’m fine.” Two words that are a common reflex for men everywhere, particularly when busy schedules and a firmly rooted belief of being “tough enough” prevent self-care and taking the time to check in on their health on a regular basis. For many men, the feeling of being invincible in their youth can evolve into neglectful behaviour when it comes to their wellbeing; ignoring warning signs, masking symptoms, delaying tests and avoiding early diagnosis that could ultimately save their lives.
Fortunately, those outdated attitudes are changing, helped by celebrities and public figures using their own experiences to challenge misplaced male bravado and reshape the conversation around self-care. Actor and comedian Ben Stiller credited a routine blood PSA test (Prostate-Specific Antigen test–which measures the level of a protein produced by the prostate gland) with saving his life. Similarly, rock music icon Rod Stewart caught his prostate cancer early, championing this simple message, “go and get checked.” Cyclist Lance Armstrong’s defeat of advanced-stage testicular cancer at 25 years old was well publicised, and more recently, Chadwick Boseman, star of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, whose untimely death at 43 from colorectal cancer loudly underscored a hard truth for men to accept: you don’t have to be old or unwell to be at risk.
These stories point to some clear takeaways: initial symptoms are often silent, and ignoring the ones that surface won’t make them disappear.
Silent Risk
Many of the most serious conditions affecting men’s health develop quietly with no pain and no other physical symptoms until they become more advanced, as the human body adapts silently to minor changes. By the time something feels wrong, the window for early, straight forward treatment may have closed. Understanding the risk factors is the first step to prevention, early detection and ultimately taking control of your health without a fuss. And with lifestyle related conditions such as hypertension and diabetes on the rise in Cayman, and regular UV exposure on the golf course or at the beach increasing the chance of skin damage and melanoma, a proactive approach and greater awareness are both key to mitigating these risks.
The Biggest Threats
Prostate Cancer
One of the most common cancers affecting men over 50, prostate cancer will be diagnosed in around 1 in 8 men during their lifetime (rising to 1 in 4 for men of Black or Hispanic ethnicity). In the UK, there are more than 60,000 cases a year on average. This now outnumbers breast cancer cases, and sadly around 12,000 diagnoses result in death. You’ll be twice as likely to get prostate cancer if an immediate male blood relative has had it. The risk increases further if an immediate female blood relative, such as a sister or mother, has had breast cancer. Other risk factors include obesity which can increase the aggressiveness of the disease. Be aware that there are no symptoms at first because tumours typically develop slowly on the periphery of the gland away from the urethra (the tube carrying urine) and therefore do not affect urine flow.
The incidence of prostate cancer in the Caribbean is three times higher than in the UK, and it is often a more aggressive form that affects younger men. Routine screening is advised from age 50, or from age 40 if there is a family history of the disease.
Colorectal Cancer
1 in 7 men in the UK will be diagnosed with bowel cancer in their lifetime, and there are around 46,000 new cases of bowel cancer in the UK each year resulting in around 17,000 deaths. While a person’s risk of developing the disease is stacked towards increased age, family history and genetics, lifestyle factors play an important role in making a person susceptible. According to Cancer Research UK, an estimated 54% of cases are preventable through lifestyle choices. Key risk factors include low fibre intake (28%), processed meat consumption (13%), overweight or obesity (11%), smoking (7%), alcohol (6%) and physical inactivity (5%).
As with most cancers, initial development is silent and there are no discernible symptoms. Signs may be subtle, such as minor changes in bowel habits or occasional discomfort which can be easily dismissed. Early screening like a blood test or colonoscopy can lead to early detection, which is a must, particularly for men over 50 years old or 45 years old if Black or Hispanic.
The cure rate for Stage 4 cancer is less than 5%. The cure rate for Stage 1 cancer is 95% and Stage 2 is 80%. Screenings for colorectal cancer have been designed to find patients when they are not yet experiencing symptoms. This starts at age 45 and the best method is a colonoscopy. This is done every 10 years until 80.
Testicular Cancer
This type of cancer is much rarer, with only 2,000 or so cases in the UK per year. However, it is a cause for concern particularly in younger men, as it is not known to be preventable. Risk factors can be undescended testes, family history and low fertility. Regular self-examination is invaluable to facilitate early diagnosis with the tell-tale small lumps or swelling on the testes being easily detectable. Still, some men miss the early signs or choose to ignore them out of fear or embarrassment. There shouldn’t be any stigma around seeing a doctor when something doesn’t feel right.
In the UK, 95% of men with testicular cancer will be alive five years after treatment, but around 60 die each year. By doing regular self-examinations, you get to know what’s normal for you. If you feel anything abnormal, get it checked. Most of the time it’ll be fine, but if it isn’t, early treatment is usually life-saving.
Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease
Particularly relevant to the Cayman Islands, the latest STEPS survey highlighted that instances of high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (which are historically the top causes of death in Cayman) were spiking in the local population. Risk factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, excess weight, smoking, high blood pressure and family history all contribute to a significant increase in the likelihood of heart attacks, stroke and other serious complications. Often dubbed “silent killers”, these diseases can go undiagnosed for years and in a region with surging medical costs for reactive treatments, early prevention and diagnosis through regular screening are essential.
The Cayman Islands population has a high risk of elevated blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. These diseases, if recognised early and treated, significantly reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks and death. It is vitally important that men above the age of 30 are routinely screened with simple blood tests and a routine physical examination.
Taking Steps to Manage Your Healthcare
Understanding the risks, and knowing what checks to do and when, are important first steps, but making good on that promise to yourself involves following through and staying on top of your health. With over 2,000 healthcare professionals in public and private practice across Cayman, there is a huge network of resources to tap into. Getting an annual wellness check from a trusted provider such as Cayman Clinic, Health City, Optimal Healthcare, Integra, Doctors Hospital, Health Services Authority (HSA), The Family Practice or Total Health is a very good place to start. The Health Services Authority (HSA) also operates district health centres across all three islands that provide routine health checks for residents, including blood pressure monitoring and blood tests. Alongside these, private practitioners offer fast access to more specialised diagnostics such as echocardiograms and longer-term heart monitoring.
Test Your Screening Knowledge
Click here to take a Quick Test on your men’s health screening knowledge from Medline, the US National Library of Medicine’s website.
Technology is making it easier than ever to take a proactive role in managing your health at home. Wearables paired with apps like Kardia and Apple Health can track heart rate over time, along with other key health data. Other apps, such as SmartBP and Diabetes:M, when used with simple Bluetooth devices, can record blood pressure and glucose levels, helping manage conditions like hypertension and diabetes while generating useful reports for your doctor.
Mental Health Matters, More Than Ever
Unfortunately, the same 'invulnerable' mindset that leads so many men to put off a checkup at the doctor's surgery is often the same barrier preventing them from seeking mental health treatment and support. Deep rooted beliefs about stoic masculinity can make it harder to reach out when you’re struggling, be it trouble sleeping, work-related stress or something more serious such as OCD, anxiety or depression, and as a result these issues go undiagnosed and untreated. Men are far more likely to internalise problems and attempt to manage them silently, rather than open up and ask for help.
Mental health professionals agree that the best course of action is to reach out to friends or family. Simply starting a conversation, with no strings, is the first step to understanding what might be happening and ultimately finding the right professional support. “I’m fine” shouldn’t be the end of the conversation. Men aren’t indestructible, physically or mentally, and there’s strength, not weakness, in getting checked, speaking up, and asking for help.
