The local office of McCann Erickson ran this very funny (and I am sure homophobia inducing) campaign for awareness among men of how to check for testicular cancer. Using guerilla tactics of die-cut hands placed strategically on seats and elsewhere to grope the family jewels of men in gyms, sports stadiums, car washes, pool halls...this campaign, at least according to the agency led to an 11% increase in doctor visits where men asked about the disease and examination. And to get any man to go to the doctor, much less ask about something like this is no easy feat. Now add to the fact that this campaign ran in Macedonia, where the macho ethic of hyper-masculinity is quite alive and well in the culture, and the success of the campaign is all the more praiseworthy.
Of course, gay men who were watching Queer As Foik several years back got the low down on this when in season 4, Brian was diagnosed with testicular cancer. While prostate cancer (which I've written about previously) is something more worrisome over the age of 50, testicular cancer has a higher risk of occurring in white men between the ages of 15 and 40.
Gay men don't always have gay doctors. Or aren't always out to their doctors. Or their straight doctors aren't always aware of certain risk factors.
For example, gay men who have contracted HPV (the human papilloma virus, less likely in these days of safer sex) anally, are at a higher risk for anal cancer. Just as women who have contracted HPV are at a higher risk for cervical cancer and get a Pap test regularly, gay men who have been on the receiving side of anal sex and have had HPV should certainly be getting a DRE from the doctor every year (certainly as part of a prostate exam) since this can help detect anal cancer as well. A more recent development is the "anal pap smear" which takes a swab to look for anal intraepithelial neoplasia. This was not something that was talking about much, but the death of Farrah Fawcett from anal cancer made it a little more top of mind — so if you're a bottom at risk, consider regular testing.
You can get more information about the particular cancer risks faced by gay men from the American Cancer Society in a downloadable brochure.
As gay men, we spend a lot of time focused on HIV, and rightly so given how many we have lost, and how many continue to become infected. But there are other health issues that need to be spoken of. If the men of Macedonia can get over their squeamishness and having a doctor squeeze their balls, the gay men of the US can arm themselves with the right information to live healthier lives.
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