What is Movember?
It’s almost summer, Christmas and everything that goes with both those things, but before we get excited, we have November to think about. For anyone that grows facial hair, November means one thing: a whole month without shaving.
Movember is the movement that aims to reduce premature deaths of young men by 25% by 2023. With a month of sponsored moustaches, Movember funds research and health services related to prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health.
We have covered depression and suicide prevention before, as well as tradie mental health, so this month we are going to focus on men’s cancers: prostate and testicular.
We always want to provide an optimistic and easy to understand overview of the difficult conditions we cover, so in following weeks we will touch on the causes, symptoms and treatments of each one. But first, what even is Movember?!
How to take part in Movember
Movember covers the whole month of November, but don’t worry if you haven’t started yet. You can pick it up now and add on the days you missed after! It literally means moustache-November, so pick a moustache to grow throughout November:
First, start with a clean shave. That way you can measure your growth throughout November, and everyone starts at the same place. To join the official cause, make sure you sign up to au.movember.com, but you can always do it independently too.
Next, choose yo’ Mo. Movember have some great suggestions. You can choose any moustache you like or even go for a month of clean shaved if a Mo is your usual anyway.
Then, keep up yo’ Mo. The first few days of growth are always the worst, but it is all worth it for such a great cause. Shape your Mo using scissors and shavers and keep adding definition as the November days pass by.
Finally, Movember recommend that you keep your Mo clean. Their official words are “Look after your Mo, and your Mo will look after you.”.
If you can’t grow facial hair, there are other ways to get involved. Move for Movember involves running or walking 60km over the month, or you can hold a Mo-ment to raise money.
To take part in Movember: clean shave fully, pick a moustache and maintain it. Raise money from sponsorship from friends and family.
Testicular Cancer
As fun as the fundraising process is, don’t forget why you’re doing it. Testicular cancer is a rare cancer, but it is common in young men. It is very easy to cure if it’s caught early, but the stigma around men asking for help often means that doesn’t happen.
As well as growing out your Mo and raising awareness, make sure you keep an eye on your own body too. If you have testicles, get to know them. Knowing your body well is the only way you can quickly notice if anything changes within it.
Regularly checking your testicles is the only way to get to know them, and Cancer Council recommends doing this in the shower! Roll them between your finger and thumb to feel for any irregularities and see your doctor if you notice anything of interest.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is more common than testicular cancer and is another that can be treated easily if caught early. The problem with prostates, though, is that their location makes them difficult to check.
Your prostate is located between your bladder and your rectum and can only be felt by inserting a finger into the rectum. Because of this, many men find it embarrassing or awkward to bring up with a doctor, and often it goes unnoticed until it spreads.
Prostate cancer causes the third most deaths from cancers in Australia, so please do not let embarrassment prevent you from receiving treatment as early as possible.
Movember
Movember has officially begun, and we are ready to tackle two of the three most prominent causes of premature male deaths. Testicular and prostate cancers are much easier to treat when they’re caught early – so raising awareness is as important as raising money.
If you haven’t got any facial hair to grow – get involved by walking, running, partying or completing literally any activity you can get people to sponsor you for. Let us know what you are doing for Movember and include any Mo photos when you do.
If you haven’t started to grow your Mo, get on it now. We are here all November to talk you through the fantastic causes behind it, but for now – go grow!
Felicity Thompson
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