THE moustache: mark of a man. So it’s perhaps not surprising that the top lip’s furry friend has become the symbol for men’s health worldwide.
A generation ago, there was little discussion about male cancers. Breasts, as they so often do, got all the attention. Then in 2003 a group of 30 Australians became curious as to why the humble tache, once such a symbol of male virility (the lush facial furniture of Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck immediately spring to mind), had fallen from grace.
They made a bid to revive the trend, launching the official month of Movember and encouraging their men friends to grow a mo – and their women to support them in their efforts. In the process, they thought they might as well do their bit for charridy.
The down-to-earth approach to health must have captured our imaginations because in the intervening years the campaign has spread from Australia to Canada, the US, Europe, South Africa and Scandinavia. Last Movember was the most successful yet, involving in excess of 852,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas, who raised £79.3 million.
Just as important, though, is the increase in awareness, and in June the charity was voted the most inspiring campaign at a major event in London, recognising that it has changed the face of fundraising and the public’s perception of prostate and testicular cancer. It is also now considered the benchmark against which all other health crusades are judged – you don’t have to look too far to see the inspiration for the the quit smoking month of Stoptober.
Prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the single most common among men, striking around 135 in every 100,000. Those aged over 50 are most likely to be affected, though the figures for Scotland are significantly lower than the rest of the UK (this is thought to be down to a difference in testing methods).
Testicular cancer is a different ball game altogether. Relatively rare, it is most common in the young and middle-aged, and it is on the increase, particularly among white Caucasian men, though the reasons as currently unknown. The good news is that it’s almost always curable.
So, are you ready to grow? The rules for Movember are pretty simple. All participants must begin the month of November clean-shaven. They must then lovingly cultivate a magnificent moustache over the course of 30 days, acting as living billboards, encouraging discussion about men’s health. That’s why next month you’ll see a moustache postmark on every item delivered by Royal Mail. Why the men around you at work and play might start to look a little more, shall we say, masculine. Some celebs might even join in (last year Justin Bieber gave it a go – bless).
Most of the cash raised in the UK is shared between Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research, whose work is internationally recognised as leading the field in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic testicular cancer.
A smaller amount (8.4 per cent, to be exact) is committed to Movember’s Global Action Plan. This aims to accelerate research into prostate cancer, bringing together experts from around the world on specific projects. It’s a first-time collaboration and illustrates just how far and fast things have progressed since Movember began, nine years ago. “Without the support of Movember, we would not be able to continue to fund innovative research or provide support and information to men at a time when they need it most,” says Owen Sharp, CEO of Prostate Cancer UK.
“It is a sad fact that men’s health has too long been neglected as an issue, in terms of investment in research, survivorship and awareness. Prostate cancer has certainly been subject to this legacy of neglect, and Movember is a massive part of helping us to redress this balance and put men’s health firmly in the spotlight.”
The campaign’s cash has allowed the charity to invest for the first time in community support centres, tailoring services to specific local needs. “Alongside the community centres, Movember funding has facilitated a large-scale recruitment programme, allowing more nurses to provide specialist care for men with prostate cancer. We believe every man deserves consistent, quality care and these new specialist nurses will help achieve this.
“Prostate Cancer UK is making a massive leap in our investment into research. This wouldn’t be possible without our partnership with Movember, working together to make men’s health matter on a global scale.”