Dr. Eric Wallen, UNC Urologist, Men’s Health Champion
If you really want to take your health seriously and live a long, healthy life, you have to start making changes now—things like losing weight, eating better, and staying active."
-Dr. Eric Wallen
Video Transcript
Michael Washington:
We connected a little while ago about the Men’s Health Program. I’d love to talk a bit about it — what inspired you to get involved, and why do you think so many men aren’t going to the doctor regularly?
Dr. Eric Wallen:
It’s something I’ve thought about a lot. You look at men in their mid-life — let’s say around 50 — and many are dealing with conditions like type 2 diabetes, which are often tied to lifestyle. Those diseases are actually far more deadly than prostate cancer in most cases.
About ten or fifteen years ago, we began to understand that many prostate cancers could safely be watched instead of treated right away. We started using active surveillance — monitoring men carefully and intervening only if needed. But the real wake-up call is that if you truly want to take your health seriously and live a long, healthy life, you have to start making changes now — things like losing weight, eating better, and staying active.
Michael Washington:
You and I talked before about the “Superman myth” — that idea men often have that they’re invincible.
Dr. Wallen:
Exactly. There’s this mindset that “I’m fine, I’m taking care of my family, nothing’s going to stop me.” But by the time men finally go see a doctor, it can be too late. What I tell them is: I’m glad you feel great, but step one is to get a doctor — someone you can trust, someone who understands you and your background.
Once you have that relationship, talk openly about your family history. If your doctor says, “You look healthy,” you still need to say, “Here’s what runs in my family.” Maybe that’s breast cancer, prostate cancer, or heart disease. Believe it or not, there’s actually a genetic connection between breast cancer and prostate cancer, and sometimes other cancers as well.
If heart disease runs in your family — that’s a big one — get on it early. My own father had a major stroke about five years ago, and I don’t want that to happen to me. These things start developing earlier than most people think — often in your twenties or thirties.
Michael Washington:
So awareness and prevention have to start early.
Dr. Wallen:
Absolutely. It’s about self-awareness and taking ownership of your health. You need to prove to yourself — and to your family — that you care about your health as much as you care about their health. Take the same care for yourself that you would for your parents, your spouse, and your kids.
And the encouraging part is that there really is a way to make a difference. You don’t have to do anything radical — just adjust your habits a little at a time. Eat a bit healthier, move more, find better balance. Even small changes can make a big impact on your long-term health.