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When Russell had a bit of a morning cough he dismissed it, he’d smoked till he was 30, it was probably just a residue cough from that. It wasn’t until he had a swelling on the side of his neck the size of a mango that he finally went to the doctor.
Life is busy, often people don’t ‘have time’ to go to the GP even when symptoms are persistent. Men are less likely than women to visit a doctor and Russell says that needs to change.
Visit your GP
Russell and three other men have come together to highlight the importance of men, in particular regional men, listening to their bodies, and stop putting off visiting the GP.
Photographer David Young has worked with Russell, Steven, and Gareth, three men in their 50s and 60s who look healthy from the outside but had a hidden threat growing inside them, to create the photographic project They Had Cancer.
All three are cancer survivors and they are taking a clear message to regional men of the importance of listening to themselves and their bodies because while you can appear ‘seemingly healthy from the outside, it can mask serious issues, mental and physical, inside’.
Look after yourself
‘The photograph is about showing our vulnerability, stoicism, imperfections, strength, weakness, flaws, and frailties in men when it comes to physical and mental health,’ Russell told The Echo.
‘The important thing is don’t ignore the science that your body gives you, either psychological or physical, that something might be wrong. Whether it’s a physical thing like a lump in your neck, a persistent cough, difficult or painful urinating or you’re finding yourself irritable, quick to anger, or you’re drinking too much alcohol, recognise there’s something wrong.’
Russell had oropharyngeal cancer and treatment has impacted his hearing and Steven and Gareth are ‘navigating things in their private lives that nobody talks about’.
Overcome stigma
Russell said all involved wanted to encourage men of their generation to overcome the uncomfortableness and stigma when it comes to addressing health issues.
He also said that getting treatment doesn’t bankrupt you, well at least here in Australia.
‘When I got diagnosed, I thought, “Oh, is this going to financially ruin me?” But I wasn’t financially ruined. Cancer is a big threat to our health and the services are there. I was very grateful.’
If you catch cancer at an early stage it significantly increases your survival rates. Find out more at: www.theyhadcancer.au.
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