Men ignore cancer checks
One in three older Australian men have never been screened for any type of cancer, the Medical Journal of Australia has reported.
Those who have had tests have had ones which are least likely to save lives and limit disease.
The Qld research surveyed men aged between 50 and 75 years and reported that 36% had never been checked for cancer of the bowel, skin or prostate – the three primary cancer checks available to men.
Of the 2,300 men surveyed, 15% had been screened for bowel cancer, 43% had been examined for skin cancer and half had had a prostate check.
Men who had the least cancer checks were those who were non-white, single, smokers and in the 50-64 years age group without private health insurance.