HEALTH bosses have warned men in Redbridge to ditch their traditional 'stiff upper lip' attitude towards illness and go for regular check-ups with their GP.

NHS Redbridge - which has responsibility for community health care services in the borough - said that the reluctance of men to adopt a healthier lifestyle and go for regular check-ups was putting them at greater risk.

Recent figures published by the body show that men are 60 per cent more likely to develop cancer than women and 70 per cent more likely to die from it.

The call for men to be more proactive with looking after their health has been championed by Edwin Doyle, chairman of NHS Redbridge - who had two operations to have a non-benign tumour removed from his nose after putting off treatment because of work commitments.

He needed a skin graft to cover the lost tissue after the procedure and was left with a scar on his forehead.

He said: "The issue of men's health isn't as well addressed as women's health and the whole topic seems to be a source of embarrassment and male machismo.

"Men statistically die a lot younger than women and there is a big problem with men shrugging off illness and not visiting their doctor.

"Add poor diet, no regular exercise and a sedentary lifestyle and you're storing up trouble. It amazes me that people invest so much time and effort in their careers to the detriment of their health."

"Good health is the most precious gift you have and I was lucky enough to learn that lesson albeit the hard way."

"I was lucky in retrospect but it is a cautionary tale to never put off hospital treatment. Your health should always be a priority."

For more imformation visit: redbridge.nhs.uk