November is the month where we gather with friends and family to give thanks and stuff our bellies until we can’t move. What am I most thankful for? I am thankful that I am a physician and more importantly a physician focused on the health care of LGBT patients. In this role, I care for a ton of men, something that is unique in primary care. (It’s the women in the world who are much better at seeking and maintaining their health!) This month, I wanted to share an interesting and fun way I promote men’s health. Anyone who can grow facial hair can join in!
Have you heard about Movember? Each year in the month of November, thousands of men (and the people who love them) around the United States and the world choose to “grow a mo” — as in, moustache — to raise vital awareness and funds for men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular-cancer initiatives. This unofficial army of health-care activists goes by the moniker “Mo Bros” or “Mo Sistas” and effectively becomes walking, talking billboards throughout the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often-ignored issue of men’s health.
In my years as a physician, I have had far too many patients with either testicular or prostate cancer. As scary as the word “cancer” can be, it is really important to detect it early, before it spreads and becomes a more life-threatening problem. What many men don’t realize is that testicular cancer is a young man’s disease, usually affecting men between 18-35. By contrast, prostate cancer is a problem of older men, usually over age 60. In either case, having a good relationship with a primary-care provider is the key to getting the education and screening needed to prevent cancer from affecting you. If you notice any changes on your testicles, changes in the way you urinate or pain in that general area, please see your doctor. Early detection is vitally important to good outcomes.
This year is my second as an official spokesperson for the Movember movement. It’s certainly a cause that I feel strongly about, and as a health-care provider, I have the opportunity to raise awareness and start conversations with people about these important issues every day.
Anyone interested in participating can register at: www.movember.com. You start the month clean shaven, then proceed to let things grow, as you groom, trim and wax your way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in your lives, Mo Sistas, Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts. 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. In 2011, more than 854,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas around the world got on board, raising $126.3 million.
Through its annual campaign and funded programs, the Movember program aims to significantly increase understanding of the health risks that men face and encourage men to act on that knowledge. The organization funds survivorship initiatives that provide information and support for men and their families affected by prostate and other male cancers that help them make informed decisions and improve their quality of life. In addition, they fund catalytic research and clinical-trials infrastructure that leads to significantly improved diagnostic and prognostic tests and treatments to reduce the burden of prostate cancer.
Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne, Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.9 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Czech Republic. Mo Bros and Mo Sistas have supported the campaign and men’s health cause across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai and everywhere in between.
Thankfully, my family and patients who have had these cancers have successfully been treated and are in remission. Chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy are still the most effective ways to treat these cancers, which is quite an experience for patients. They need our love and support during their treatments, as it usually takes a lot of their energy. That being said, researchers are busy working to find better cures and better ways to detect cancers early. But, these efforts take time and money. So if you see a guy sporting a cheesy moustache this month, chances are he’s doing it for a cause! Thank him and donate if you can.
Robert Winn is medical director at Mazzoni Center, the region’s only LGBT-specific health center.