Gareth O'Callaghan: It took losing a close friend to realise I need to mind my health

Doctors call prostate cancer, among others, the silent killer — it’s worth adding cholesterol to that list

Most men don’t visit the doctor often enough, which is why serious conditions, including cancer and depression, remain undiagnosed. One friend said he would prefer not to know if there was something seriously wrong with him. This takes ignorance to a whole new level.

How often should you make an appointment to see your family doctor? Just asking for a friend.

Earlier this year I quizzed a few colleagues — five men under the age of 60 — to find out when was the last time they visited their GPs. Four of them replied, quite nonchalantly, that they hadn’t been inside a doctor’s office in years; the fifth said he didn’t have a GP.