Don’t be like Jeff!

Come on, men. It's time we all take our health seriously. Our loved ones deserve that from us.

This is the perfect time to discuss this issue, as June is National Men's Health Month. This annual observance aims to raise awareness of preventable health issues and encourage early detection and treatment. The month also encourages men and boys to take charge of their health by making healthy lifestyle choices.

I've learned the importance of early detection firsthand. If I'd listened to my wife when she first noticed a mole on my back that didn't look right, I could have saved myself and my family a lot of heartache.

But we were transitioning between New York and Florida, and insurance was an issue. So, I waited almost a year to see a dermatologist. By that time, the mole didn't just look funky. It itched, and it had bled, too.

It might have just been precancerous if I'd found a way to see a doctor when Jeanette pointed out the mole. That would have meant the dermatologist could have removed it in his office, and I would not have needed additional treatments.

Instead, by the time I got checked out, I had Stage 3 nodular melanoma. The cancer had spread into my lymph nodes. I needed four surgeries and a year of immunotherapy treatments. The physical toll was awful. The mental toll was worse, especially knowing that my situation might have been preventable.

I would not have needed to look at my kids and wonder if I'd get to see them grow up. I could have helped my family move into our new house. I wouldn't have needed to pass on trips to theme parks because I was too drained to walk.

By waiting a year to get a little old mole examined, I drastically changed 18 months of life for myself and everyone around me.

Don't be like Jeff, guys. Be better! Take care of yourselves!