Movember moves for men’s health

WHERE health matters are concerned, men have a reputation for sticking their heads in the sand. That little lump in an unmentionable part of the body will in all likelihood be studiously ignored after initial detection. Difficulty in passing urine will be put down to something in the diet of the night before. And feeling blue on a far too regular basis will probably be blamed on the death of a favourite uncle.

For many men, matters could be far more serious than the half-hearted attempts at explaining away all the unusual physical and psychological symptoms that may suddenly make an appearance.

But now we have a chance to become champions of men’s health…

It’s easy. And it’s guaranteed to be fun. It offers men the opportunity to join hands with their loved ones, or with other men and women – to highlight health issues they seldom ever speak about, such as prostrate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.

What do we mean by this? Here’s a clue: when the subject of men’s wellbeing grabs the limelight in November, it can only mean one thing – Movember.

Of course, Movember is all about a clean shave, followed by not shaving again for the rest of the month. It’s about growing that “Mo”.

This year, something extra has been thrown into the project. It’s called MOVE (in capital letters). It comes with an invitation to women also to do something tangible for men’s health – and it calls on men to grow a moustache, and MOVE, yes, really move.

The organisers, the Men’s Foundation of South Africa, is challenging people to MOVE every day of November – 30 MOVES in 30 days. It could be anything, they say, from a jog to a game of table tennis, to a bike ride.

It is well worth remembering that one in 23 South African men will develop symptoms of prostate cancer and one in 1 959 will be diagnosed with testicular cancer. Far too many men are also couch potatoes. Let’s use Movember to highlight these issues – because in doing so, we will create awareness, which is the route to early diagnosis of serious problems.