Forty Means Physical
…and physicals scare the hell out of us guys! Why you ask? I think for most of us, it’s the dreaded digital rectal exam. When I first heard the term, I thought surely it must have something to do with a computer or electronic exam. After all, it was called a digital exam?!?! Unfortunately, that is NOT what digital refers to.
Just the thought of another male, (assuming your doctor is a male), checking your prostate, can be a harrowing thought for many of us. Of course, I’m sure doctors don’t wake up in the morning, hoping they’ll arrive at their offices to find waiting rooms full of men in there for prostate exams!
My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was in his seventies, so I am naturally a little concerned that I too may have to deal with this some day. A few years ago, I began noticing a dull ache or pain in my upper thigh that would never seem to go away. When I went to the doctor, he wanted to check my prostate for any abnormalities. He determined that I had prostatitis, which is basically an inflammation of the prostate gland. I ended up having 3 exams that year so I feel like I’ve become an old pro at it! (It’s much easier to joke about it when you’ve been through it a few times!)
But lets face it, if you’re 40 or older, you NEED to have a physical. No…not because you’re falling apart, but because it’s simply a good practice to get into. Catching a disease early is the key to curing it.So what can men do to get ready for the inevitable prostate exam? The first thing you need to realize is that as awful as it may sound, you should relax and take comfort in knowing that it’s typically over pretty quick. What is pretty quick? Well…I’d say that mine typically took between 5 and 10 seconds or so. It may seem like an eternity, but it’s not.
If the doctor finds nothing wrong, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you don’t have to go through this for another year, (and you now have the right to tease your “turning 40” friends and tell them stories about what they have to look forward to!) Seriously, your exam is important and the peace of mind in knowing everything is OK makes it all worth it.