Why It's Important for Men Like Bret Hart to Talk More Openly about Their Prostate Cancer and Health
Bret Hart, a former professional WWE wrestler and winner of world heavyweight titles, bravely disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis on Monday through social media.
After undergoing multiple injuries and surgeries throughout his career, Bret Hart now faces a new battle.
“I now face my toughest battle.” Hart writes. “With hesitation and fear, I openly declare myself in my fight against prostate cancer.”
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer after skin cancer in men and is also the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Bret Hart’s announcement of his prostate cancer and his determination to fight it is a significant step in the right direction for men to start taking better care of their health. According to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, men are 25 percent less likely to have visited a doctor in the past year and almost 40 percent are more likely to have skipped recommended cholesterol screenings. This behavior leads to a deadly outcome for men as American men are 1.5 times more likely than women to die from diseases like heart and respiratory disease as well as cancer than women, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The American Psychological Association associated socialized male behaviors to men taking poorer care of their health but attributed some aspects of masculinity that might protect men’s health. It seems Bret Hart is now embracing the traits that will help him in his fight against prostate cancer.
Men like Bret Hart openly talking about their health, especially as a public figure revered for his masculinity, is essential in men taking control of their health. His announcement serves as a message of awareness and inspiration for others diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Hart concludes his announcement: “I refuse to lose, I will never give in or give up, and I will win this battle or die trying. Most important of all, I hope I can take the fight to prostate cancer. To be a leader in awareness and to set the example for men everywhere who find themselves in my very same shoes, that prostate cancer can be beaten.”
A photo posted by Bret (@brethitmanhart) onFeb 1, 2016 at 8:28am PST
Yumhee Park is a former content producer for HealthCentral.com.