The conversations of life

“Bro-ifying” health: this ‘man cave’ is getting more men to go to the doctor

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Imagine: you’re lounging on a leather couch while watching sports on a 70-inch flat screen TV, surrounded by signed memorabilia from some of the greatest sportspeople of all time, and there’s free coffee on tap.

Yes, your dream ‘man cave’ is real – it also just happens to be your doctor too.

US urologist Dr Ash Tewari has partnered with not-for-profit organisation Man Cave Health to launch a first-of-its-kind sports-themed medical centre focusing on prostate health in New York (pictured).

Seems like a strange idea at first, but Dr Tewari has a very important cause.

Research shows that men simply don’t go to the doctor. They’re twice as likely as women to go two years without a check-up – and a whopping 40 per cent won’t even make a GP appointment unless they consider it a “serious” medical issue.

A lot of this has been put down to a cultural problem – men often feel too “macho” to admit they’re not feeling well, or to undergo “embarrassing” or invasive tests.

But regular check-ups, especially as you age, are vital. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men in Australia and the third most common cause of cancer death. One in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 85 – and early detection is extremely important.

Dr Tewari’s brilliant ‘man cave’ clinic is only in the US for now, although he has plans to expand.

In the meantime, boys, man up – go and see your GP soon!

With a background in nursing, Annie has spent over 20 years working in the health industry, including the coordination of medical support for international TV productions and major stadium events, plus education campaigns with a number of national health organisations. In recent years, she has also taken time out of the workforce to be a full-time carer, giving her first-hand experience of the challenges and rewards of this role.


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