Men tell stories of good health

Men are not being left out but need to be more proactive.Dr Andrew Heslop, director of Hastings Health CentreKiwi blokes are comparatively useless when it comes to looking after their health.
The statistics say it all: men are more likely than women to die of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and suicide, yet are less likely to visit the doctor.
This week is Men's Health Week, a worldwide initiative aimed to increase awareness of male health issues.
It's one campaign that has the support of Andrew Heslop, director of the Hastings Health Centre, who sees it as a way to get men to talk more about their health.
Dr Heslop said men were less likely to see their GP to check out a health problem because they often felt invincible and had an 'I'll-be-alright' attitude.
"There's also often the fear of something serious being found and they prefer not to know," he said.
Women were more likely to talk about their health and benefited from high-profile campaigns, such as the Pink Ribbon and Cervical Screening.
Dr Heslop said: "Men may feel left out - particularly with the National Screening programmes focusing on women's health issues.
"They are not being left out, but need to be more proactive about seeking preventative health information, making the best lifestyle choices and seeking treatment in a timely fashion," he said.
Those lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking, and lack of exercise, made early in life could have significant effects on their health when they are older. The Hawke's Bay branch of the Cancer Society of New Zealand is one organisation committed to reversing the trends.
Kay Collins, manager of Cancer Society of New Zealand Hawke's Bay Centre, was spearheading a regionwide pilot programme to bring men's health to the fore.
Centre staff were in the process of finding local men whose timely doctor's visit saved them from developing serious health problems. Their stories would be told on canvas boards and displayed in prominent places, such as cafes, libraries, workplaces and theatres in centres throughout the region.
"We hope it'll make people stop and think, and realise there are people who've saved themselves a death sentence because they've taken the first step and gone to the doctor and not ignored the symptoms," Mrs Collins said.
The project was also aimed at women who often were the driving force in getting male partners, friends and family to the doctors.
The pilot was modelled on a similar smokefree campaign last year and Mrs Collins hoped it would be up-and-running by August.
She said Cancer Societies throughout the Central Districts were also trialling projects.