“Our parents, partners, siblings and friends are facing a health crisis, but it’s rarely talked about. Men die too young. We cannot afford to remain silent.” This is how the

Movember Foundation

is introduced on its website, which seeks to change the face of men’s mental health.

This charity, whose name #Movember originates from the contraction of the English terms Moustache (moustache) and November (November), was born in 2003 when, when two young people, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, along with a group of 30 followers in Melbourn, known as the original 30, had the idea of growing their whiskers to support a friend diagnosed with prostate cancer, a year later the Movember Foundation began collecting funds to be used to fight against prostate cancer in Australia and subsequently has been spreading throughout the world, until today where it is officially celebrated in more than 21 countries, being this foundation chosen in 2011 and 2012 as one of the 100 most notable NGOs by the Global Journal.

The Movember Foundation has funded more than 1000 research programmes on the prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health or physical inactivity, raising more than 654 million euros in these 15 years, but the most important thing is Generate awareness and give visibility internationally to men’s health.

With the goal of “making a lasting impact on men’s health,” #Movember funds global and local programs and research in the following areas:

• Prostate cancer. The second most common type of cancer in men worldwide, after skin cancer. It is a major health concern, especially in developed countries due to the higher proportion of older men in the general population. There are three well-established risk factors for PCA: increasing age, ethnicity, and genetic predisposition.
• Testicular cancer. The second most common cancer in men between 18 and 39 years, however, its incidence is generally low being part of approximately 1-1.5% of all cancers in men. There are risk factors such as family history, having had a testicular tumor previously or cryptorchidism (No descent of the testicle to the scrotal sac). It is very important in young patients to generate awareness of performing a testicular self-examination and alert their doctor to any abnormality.
• Mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 510,000 men die by suicide worldwide each year.Which is equivalent to one per minute,” the foundation argues. In this sense, the consequences of poor mental health “can be deadly.” In addition, “men don’t usually recognize that they have a mental health problem and may not feel comfortable asking for help.”
• Physical inactivity. The fourth risk factor for mortality in the world. It is the newest area of inclusion.

The most significant program that #Movember funded worldwide is called is called Global Action Plan (G.A.P., Global Action Plan ), these are some of the lines of research in prostate and testicular cancer.

• GAP1 – Biomarkers: Improve the distinction between low-risk and aggressive cancers.
• GAP2 – Imaging: Develop techniques for the best and earliest detection. Fluorodihydrotestosterone (FDHT), Fluoro-methyl-choline (FCH) and Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) are currently being investigated.
• GAP3 – Active surveillance: Monitor low-risk or slow-developing cases before it is really necessary to start active treatment.
• GAP4 – Exercise and Metabolic Health: Determining the importance of exercise in preventing or slowing cancer progression.
• GAP5 – Testicular cancer: On the one hand, to improve the knowledge we have about patients with testicular cancer who have it again and, on the other hand, to support TIGER, a program that seeks to determine the best possible treatment for such cases.

 

Everything is possible thanks to the fact that in the month of November millions of people around the world wear their solidarity mustaches following the initiative of the Movember Foundation. Simply leave a mustache from November 1, and register through the foundation’s website and take care of your mustache throughout the month. “Use the power of your mustache to generate conversations and raise funds for men’s health“ , add in the campaign.

In short, it is a date to raise awareness among the male population about the importance of undergoing medical check-ups and periodic check-ups that allow them to take care of their health and prevent diseases that can become fatal.

Uros Associats

is a group of specialists in the field of urology who are committed to men’s health, and we are willing to accompany you in the prevention and treatment of these affectations.

 

Jhonatan A. Esper Rueda – Urology Specialist
Uros Associats