“Movember, the month formerly known as November, is when brave and selfless men around the world grow a moustache, and women step up to support them, all to raise awareness and funds for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.”
– Prostate Cancer, UK
Movember is a combination of the words moustache “mo” and “November.” The movement was started in Australia by two unrelated groups of men. In 1999, the first group out of Adelaide, South Australia came up with the idea of growing a moustache for charity during the month of November, and coined the term “Movember.” Five years later, a different group of men out of Melbourne created an event where 30 men would grow a moustache for 30 days in order to raise awareness for prostate cancer and depression in men. This second group eventually became, which runs the official Movember charity event, housed at Movember.com. The goal of Movember is to “change the face of men’s health.”
Although Movember is based on the idea of growing a mustache during the month, it’s not limited to that, and many people observe it in other ways.
Why Focus on Men’s Health
According to the Movember Foundation, men are dying on average about 5 years earlier than women due to largely preventable causes, namely prostate and testicular cancers as well as suicide.
In general, men are less likely to see a doctor unless they are feeling unwell. If they aren’t having symptoms, they tend to skip their routine screenings, which can lead to a problem going undiagnosed until symptoms occur. Nilesh Vora, M.D., medical director, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute, Long Beach Medical Center says this is why men are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with stage 4 cancer than women. He believes part of the reason men avoid seeing their doctors when they are asymptomatic is because culturally, men are raised that visiting a doctor is a sign of weakness, and unless they are seriously injured or ill, they can take care of the problem on their own. Similarly, men are raised to keep their feelings to themselves, and not seek the help of a mental health professional if they are struggling emotionally. This is one of the reasons that nearly 69% of suicides in the U.S. are committed by men.
Although not all cancers are completely preventable, there are actions men can take to significantly reduce their risk of dying from cancer. According to Nilesh Vora, M.D., colonoscopies are vital. He also recommends regular PSA tests to detect prostate cancer and screenings for lung cancer, especially in smokers. At a minimum, you should get an annual physical to ensure there are no problems. Men should also be encouraged and supported to seek help from a medical professional if they are having emotional problems or thoughts of suicide.
Recognizing the Signs
If you think a friend might be going through a tough time, you need to be proactive. Follow these four steps from the Movember Foundation to get a conversation going:
- Ask: Start by mentioning any behavior that has been out of the ordinary lately. “I’ve noticed you’ve been missing a lot of social functions lately. Is everything okay.” Trust your instincts if you think he isn’t answering you truthfully. Don’t be afraid to ask again.
- Listen: Give him your full attention. Ask follow up questions. “I’m sure that must be difficult. How long have you felt that way?”
- Encourage Action: Try to offer simple things he can do to help him feel better. Is he getting enough sleep? Is he exercising and eating well? Also encourage him to share how he’s feeling with others he trusts.
- Check in: Arrange to get together again soon, and actually do it. This shows you care, and can help him from feeling isolated.
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing thoughts of suicide, there are resources available. Visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center for more information.
Clint’s Story
While the Movember movement focuses mainly on raising awareness and funds for prostate and testicular cancer, colon cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men’s health, says Dr. Vora. One reason for this is because colon cancer often doesn’t show symptoms until it is quite advanced. Even then, many of the symptoms can easily be brushed off as gas, or a stomach bug. That, combined with men’s typical reluctance to get an asymptomatic colonoscopy, leads to colon cancer going undiagnosed until it has reached stage 3 or stage 4.
In 2018, Lindsay’s cousin Clint was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 37. As uncomfortable as it was for him to discuss it, she asked him about the symptoms and why it took him so long to see a doctor. He said that many of his symptoms seemed “normal” – maybe he ate something bad or had too many beers the night before. That was his answer for the bouts of diarrhea. The stomach pain he chalked up to gas or heartburn. It wasn’t until he started seeing blood in his stool that he became concerned and decided to see his doctor. By then, it was already stage 4 and had spread to his liver.
Clint fought a very difficult battle for 3 years. He went through numerous surgeries and experimental treatments in an effort to beat the cancer. But it spread too quickly, on April 18, 2021, he lost the fight. Just 3 weeks after his 40th birthday.
More young people are getting cancer, which is why regular screenings are critical to catch it early enough to treat successfully.
To get involved with the Movember Foundation, visit their website. There are tons of ways to show support. Especially if you can’t grow a mustache.