“Take this opportunity”: Fred MacAulay backs Kirkcaldy event to highlight men’s health issues

The renowned broadcaster and comedian has given his support to a University of Dundee event in the town focusing on ailments that affect men, including prostate and testicular cancer.

Let’s Talk About…Men’s Health will include demonstrations on how to examine a testicle for signs of cancer and a discussion on the warning signs of prostate cancer and other common health conditions that affect men. The event takes place at the University’s School of Health Sciences on Kirkcaldy’s Forth Avenue on Wednesday 10 September.

Fred, a former University rector, has been open about his own battle with prostate cancer and the need for men to be more aware of symptoms of the illness. He said that the evening would give men in the Lang Toun valuable knowledge that could safeguard their future health.

He said, “I’ve recently talked about my health publicly and I hope that this event encourages other men to talk about their health, both physical and mental. 

“I really hope that the men and women of Kirkcaldy take this opportunity to come together to talk about men’s health, share knowledge, and keep well.”

At the event, members of the public will be shown how to identify signs of prostate cancer, examine testicles for signs of cancer, check skin for common conditions and learn more about social issues such as homelessness. Women are being actively encouraged to come along and encourage husbands, partners, fathers and sons to attend.

Paul Smith, a lecturer in Mental Health at the School of Health Sciences, said, “Men have historically been less willing to discuss their health or to seek help when something is not quite right. While recent years have seen an increasing awareness of male cancers, many men are still not aware of the signs and symptoms they should be looking out for or ignore these when they become apparent.

“Focusing on male health also gives us an opportunity to examine other issues that may also go overlooked. Men are prone to skin ailments that they may not be aware of, while we know that the higher rate of homelessness among men can be attributed to issues regarding men's health.

“In one evening, the men of Kirkcaldy may just learn something that could save their life or that of a loved one.

“We also want women to come along to learn how to support the men in their life and to promote an open, frank discussion around male health. These are our fathers, husbands, partners and sons, and this is a great opportunity to ensure they are comfortable to talk about any health concerns they may have.”

Let’s Talk About…Men’s Health is the third public-facing evening organised at the University’s Kirkcaldy campus this year.  This latest event takes place at the University of Dundee’s Kirkcaldy Campus, Forth Avenue, from 18:00-20:30 on Wednesday 10 September. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.