Cancerwise

Have you ever suggested to a boyfriend, husband, brother, son or father that they go see a doctor, only to be met with resistance? If so, you’re not alone.

Research shows that men tend to be more reluctant to consult a doctor than women — even when they really ought to.

Urologic oncologist Lisly Chéry, M.D., and general oncologist Amy Hassan, M.D., explored why and discussed ways to get the men in your life to go see a doctor on UT MD Anderson’s Cancerwise podcast.

Here are three strategies they shared.

Use an analogy they can relate to

Many men won’t even consider going to a doctor unless something is wrong. Why? Because unlike women, who tend to seek care for reproductive health issues earlier in life, men don’t really have another reason to go.

“Particularly for young men, the mentality is, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’” Chéry says. “A lot of men also have this idea that they have to tough things out. So, if something is not really bothering them, they’re not going to get it addressed.”

To counteract this, Chéry suggests comparing preventive health care — such as annual physicals and cancer screenings — with something men can relate to, such as car maintenance.

“You don’t wait to take it to the shop until there’s smoke coming out from under the hood,” Chéry notes. “Because by then, you might need a new car. Instead, you get your tires rotated, have your oil changed, and do other things periodically to keep it running well.”

Bundle fun activities with medical visits

You’ve heard the old maxim, “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” right?

The same principle applies here. Pairing “fun-to-do” activities with “have-to-do” activities can sometimes make our obligations more tolerable because we know that something pleasant awaits us on the other side.

So, suggest grabbing a meal at their favorite restaurant after a doctor visit, or watching a movie they’ve been wanting to see. This gives the man in your life something to look forward to, instead of just something to cross off his chore list.

“That can counterbalance the idea that seeing the doctor is not something they really want to do,” says Chéry.