Mo’vember, Mo’staches?
It’s November – Halloween is over, the leaves have almost all fallen, and winter is knocking on the door. And while pumpkin spice latte season is upon us, some may have also noticed that with this month comes an increase in big, bushy moustaches. So what does November have to do with the explosion of lip caterpillars? The answer is a little something called Movember and the crusade for men’s health awareness.
The Movember movement began in Australia in 2003 when 2 friends were inspired to start a campaign for men’s health and prostate cancer – something they felt had not been talked about enough. They challenged 20 of their friends to grow their most epic ‘stache and charged $10 per participant to be donated to prostate cancer research. Over the next few years the movement grew to become a worldwide fundraising campaign with the focus of men’s health expanding to include not just prostate cancer but also testicular cancer, mental health, and men’s inactivity.
The Movember Foundation has since raised over $750 million with the goal of reducing premature death in men by 25% by 2030. People all over the world can participate in Movember by growing their own moustache, running or walking over 60km throughout the month, or hosting an event – all while raising money for men’s health.
The movement has shone a light on the many health concerns affecting men, especially two of the biggest concerns: prostate and testicular cancer. Here’s the 411 on each of these:
Prostate Cancer
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to impact Canadian men, affecting 1 in 9 men throughout their lifetime
It affects the prostate - a reproductive gland that is only found in men
Who is at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer?
Men over the age of 50 (age being the strongest risk factor)
Those with a family history of prostate cancer, especially with a first-degree relative (such as a father or brother)
Men of African or Caribbean descent
Men who are overweight as activity and a healthy diet have been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer
What are the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer?
Those with prostate cancer may experience:
difficulty urinating
a weak or interrupted flow of urine
the urgent need to urinate
frequent urination (especially at night)
burning or pain with urination
painful ejaculation
blood in urine or semen
frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs
It’s important to note that prostate cancer can be slow growing and can even go years without being detected. Thus early detection and regular screenings are important. If you are over 50 or have any of the mentioned risk factors you should talk with your doctor about early detection strategies. The importance of early detection cannot be overstated enough as it leads to a nearly 100% survival rate.
Testicular Cancer
What is testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer is another big health concern affecting men.
It is the most common cancer among younger men with the average age of detection around 33 years old.
While the mortality rate with testicular cancer is low, treatment is required for survival so testicular cancer is not something to ignore.
Who is at a higher risk of developing testicular cancer?
Men with a family history of testicular cancer
Men with undescended testes at birth
What are the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer?
painless lump in the testicle
persistent lump that won’t go away
a feeling of heaviness or aching in the lower abdomen or scrotum
a painful testicle
swelling of the testicle
enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen or neck
The symptoms of testicular cancer are often mild so the best way to detect it is with self-examination.
What does self-examination entail?
Starting at the age of 15 it is important that boys and men get into the habit of becoming familiar with themselves and checking their testicles regularly through self-examination
Self-examination should be done:
after a hot shower or bath
in front of a mirror to check for any visual changes
by rolling each testicle between your finger and thumb to check for any lumps or pain
If you notice anything different or out of the ordinary be sure to see your doctor to have it checked out.
Overall, it wouldn’t hurt to remind younger men to give their bodies some love in order to routinely check for irregularities and talk to the older men in our lives about the importance of checking in with their doctors for regular prostate screenings.
So while we cozy up this November in our favourite sweater with our pumpkin beverage in-hand, it’s important to remember that this month is all about raising more awareness of, having more conversations about, and donating as best as we can to men’s health.
And don’t forget to take a moment to look around and bask in all the glorious Movember soup strainers that would make Tom Selleck and Ron Swanson proud.
For more information on how you can donate to or participate in Movember visit ca.movember.com.
This blog post was written by wellbe’s chiropractor Julia Marshall.