Why many men avoid medical check-ups

In the best-case scenario, an early detection examination will reveal that something is wrong. For example, during a palpation examination of the prostate, which is carried out through the rectum. Men over the age of 45 are entitled to it once a year. The health insurance company bears the costs.

Another option for early detection is the PSA test. A blood test determines the amount of a protein that is only produced in the prostate. If this value is high, it can indicate a tumor.

As a rule, men have to pay for the PSA test themselves. According to the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), it costs around 45 euros including a consultation. Important to know: There can be inaccuracies in a PSA test, just like in a palpation examination.

By no means every man perceives these examinations. This is also shown by a YouGov survey of men aged 45 and over. According to this, a third of the 1020 respondents have so far omitted to take precautions. There are different reasons behind this, three in particular are mentioned again and again. What's behind it?

That doesn't have to mean that everything is fine. There are no symptoms that indicate early on that a malignant tumor is forming in the prostate, as the German Cancer Society informs.

Symptoms usually only appear when the tumor is so large that it has already formed metastases or has spread to the urethra. This can show up as problems urinating. You have to do it more often, you can't do it as well, or you notice blood in your urine.

Impotence or pain during ejaculation can also indicate prostate cancer. As well as severe pain in the lower back, pelvis, hips or thighs.

According to the German Cancer Society, these symptoms can also be caused by a benign enlargement of the prostate. But in order to determine exactly how the prostate has changed, you need the professional assessment of a doctor.

The palpation is done through the rectum. The doctor uses his or her index finger to check whether the prostate has changed. This may be uncomfortable because it feels like a loss of control.

The examination is usually not painful, according to the German Cancer Aid. And it's over after a few minutes. You can get back into your pants with the good feeling of having survived it.

Everyone would like to avoid being diagnosed with a serious illness. Men in particular are also afraid, as psycho-oncologist Carsten Witte observes: “Men often see their illness as a weakness and often see their masculinity threatened – especially when they are diagnosed with prostate cancer.”

But: the earlier a carcinoma is detected, the better the chances of recovery. According to the German Cancer Aid, the tumor can then be treated more gently.

However, especially in the course of a PSA test, cancer diseases are diagnosed at a very early stage, which actually do not need to be treated, writes the cancer society. If not through early detection, they would not have been noticed during their lifetime and would not have caused any symptoms.

In the end, one thing is particularly important: that men inform themselves well in advance and weigh up the benefits and risks of preventive medical check-ups - especially a PSA test. The German Cancer Aid advises men to speak to their family doctor.