It's that time of year again where today (1st of
Movember) we have a clean shave, then grow whatever Mo (Moustache) we want. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s
health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face
and then for the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men,
known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine
moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember
Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing
efforts.
Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days
of November and through their actions and words raise awareness by
prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue
of men’s health.
At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry
and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one
of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for
Movember.
Men's Health
The average life expectancy for men is four years less than women (presently 78 years old compared to 82).
The
rate of cancer diagnoses in men is considerably higher than the rate in
women. In every 100,000 men there will be 417 cases diagnosed, compared
to 366 cases per 100,000 females.
Evidence
suggests that about a third (39%) of 12 common cancers in the UK could
be prevented through diet, physical activity and body weight.
1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
In 2008 37,051 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed and 10,168 men died.
Testicular
cancer in the UK affects younger men between the ages of 20 and 50.
1,990 men were diagnosed with the disease in 2007.
Smoking accounts for at least 25% of all cancer deaths and 86% of lung cancer deaths.
In 2008 22,846 men were diagnosed with lung cancer and 19,868 men died from the disease.
While
not as common, men can get breast cancer. In 2008 about 341 new cases
of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed among men and about 69 men died
from the disease.
The most common cancer in the UK for men is prostate cancer and for women breast cancer.
In 2008 5,584 men were diagnosed with skin cancer (malignant melanoma) and 1,121 men died from the disease.
An estimated 2.8million people have diabetes and 850,000 do not know it.
About 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure, and blood pressure tends to rise with age.
1 in 4 men in the UK will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives.
Men commit suicide four times as often as women.
Only 26% of men go to their GPs for regular check ups.
Let’s face it, men are known to be more indifferent towards their
health, especially when compared to the efforts of women, who
proactively and publicly address their health issues in a way not
traditionally seen with men. As a result, today the levels of awareness,
understanding and funding for support of male health issues, like
prostate cancer, lag significantly behind causes such as breast cancer.
The reasons for the poor state of men’s health in the UK and around the
world are numerous and complex and this is primarily due to a lack of
awareness of the health issues men face. This can largely be attributed
to the reluctance in men to openly discussing the subject due to
longstanding traditions, coupled with an ‘it’ll be alright’ attitude.
Men are less likely to schedule doctors’ appointments when they feel ill
or for an annual check-up, thereby denying them the chance of early
detection and effective treatment of common diseases.
