The Movement for Men’s Health

It’s that time of the year when men would stop shaving for an entire month. Some would refer to it as Movember and for others, no-shave November. But how did this start and why?

Mo(ustache) + (No)vember = Movember

It all began in an Australian pub some 19 years ago. A group of young men decided to grow their mustaches for charity and the movement grew from 80 participants to over 5 million from all over the world—which now even includes women, the Mo Sista! It officially became the Movember Foundation in  2003 and is active in 21 countries employing over 130 people.

Since then, the foundation has raised over $700 million for men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health issues. They fund health programs which include education, awareness campaigns, and cancer research.

How does Movember work with our Mo Bros?

First off, you can choose to grow your mustache this November – obviously starting with a clean slate. Meaning, SHAVE IT ALL OFF! Think of baby-smooth skin during the start. And next, just let it GROW. Just to clarify, this is about growing the mustache and not the beard. Beards and sideburns don’t count. Second – get a men’s health panel done – or encourage the men in your life to do so. There are a series of ways to get checked for any cancer or medical issues and a men’s health panel is one.

According to the ACS, men over the age of 50 should explore the risks and benefits of the PSA test for any signs of prostate cancer. While women get yearly mammograms, some doctors recommend men have their testicles checked for any lumps or other changes in their feel or look monthly or yearly.

Remember, detection is key to prevention.