‘Man up’ in Movember
KNYSNA - Every year, when the calendar nears the end of November, the echoes of a certain awareness campaign begin to be heard. This campaign is Movember, and it is aimed at the growing drive to raise awareness of health issues among men.
Many might like to poke fun at men who sport a 'stache in the month of November, but many also don't realise the true weight the symbolic gesture carries. The annual Movember movement is about more than just simply sporting a moustache, it aims to raise awareness of men's health, men's mental health and suicide prevention, and of course prostate cancer among men.
KPH's personal link to Movember
While November is Men's Health Awareness month, which focuses on cancer in men, in particular testicular and prostate cancer, Movember extends to men's mental health too. Knysna-Plett Herald news editor Blake Linder is one of the millions of people around the world who take part in Movember every year. Now in his third year of participation in Movember, he chooses to raise awareness of men's mental health and suicide prevention, he says.
"I have had my own battles with mental health in the past, and still do at times, but through it all I find it pertinent to remember that I am never alone in my difficult times and that I have people by my side to support me through these times," he says. "For me, creating awareness of the issue and the battles that many men go through in solitude and silence, is vital. Men should never feel that they are alone; we should never have to suffer in silence. Speak up and reach out, there are more outstretched hands willing to help than you may think."
Prostate cancer awareness
Of course, Movember and Men's Health Awareness Month focuses on far more than only mental health and suicide prevention. At its core, the month seeks to raise awareness of prostate cancer among men. In a statement issued by Western Cape Government Health this week, Knysna resident Marius Davids, 52, recounted his own journey with prostate cancer. "I remember going to the doctor in September of 2019. Back then I wasn't really one to go to the doctor when I was feeling sick. But I decided to go this time because I really wasn’t feeling well. I was sent for a blood test and a few weeks later I was told that I have prostate cancer. Fortunately, it was detected early. It was stage 1 prostate cancer, which made it easier to be treated," he said.
"Men must do their yearly checkups. Making your health a priority is a sign of strength, not weakness. I'm glad I went for my yearly check-up
because who knows where I would be today. I'm here, cancer-free, four years later and I've been going for my yearly check-ups ever since."
Western Cape Government Health offers a range of health services for men, including mental health support, screening of blood pressure, blood sugar, STI and HIV testing and treatment, and medical male circumcision. Early detection of health issues is vital. Men need to visit a health facility to confirm that they are in good health or to discuss any problems they might have.
This includes care and guidance on preventative measures such as vaccinations, screening and lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of various health conditions.