June is Men's Health Month

In honor of Men's Health Month in June Professor of Health Science and Master Advisor Stephen Sowulewski sent this short piece about his father's health ordeal to be published on Reynolds blog. 

If you, or a man in your life, is due for a check up, Men's Health Month is a great time to make that appointment!

From Stephen:

My research into men’s health issues always has me feeling hopeful around June of each year.  Although more work needs to be done on the forefront of men’s health, we are making strides at the Men’s Health Network (MHN) in Washington, DC. I was thrilled to be assigned to MHN for my doctoral externship many years ago and had the opportunity to knock on doors within the halls of congress to help lobby efforts toward opening an official office on men’s health.  

Rewind to the summer of 2003 and my father’s diagnosis of prostate cancer.  He has always been an exceptional listener and never quick to jump in on a conversation but you really know that the “wheels are turning” and he is indeed taking it all in.  No matter the diagnosis, my dad went on a quest to learn as much as he could about his diagnosis.  As tough as my dad is, I could see the consternation. Seeing him with a catheter bag walking around the house and being vulnerable in that post-surgical timeframe really brought perspective to me with regard to societal standards that men need to ‘suck it up’ and move on. Being a devout catholic and having trust in the Lord as well as his supporters (my mom and I) helped propel my dad through this ordeal.   

A recent episode of my favorite show, Blue Bloods has Tom Selleck (NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan) bartering with his father’s physician about not letting his father know of the prostate diagnosis. Well, often our best intentions end up coming apart at the seams. In this case, the ‘Reagan patriarch’ finds out anyway. This episode hits close to home because my friend’s brother did not want his family knowing about the diagnosis and eventual surgery.  Not everyone will accept support for things that happen in their life but this episode gave me hope that a person diagnosed with cancer will at least let one person know so they can have that support structure.   

The vast majority of men will die with prostate cancer as opposed to dying from it.  The end result was a good one for my father — almost 20 years later and he continues to receive a clean bill of health from the urologist.   

Lastly, my dad considers himself a marked man.  He had his gallbladder removed a few years prior to his prostate removal and somehow, someway, he bears a scar in the shape of a cross at those exact surgical sites.   

I call this his battle scars because he continues to be a wellness warrior!

Stephen Sowulewski