MOVEMBER 2022

It’s time to throw away your razors to support men’s health this November!

Movember is an annual event involving the growing of mustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide. On average, men are dying younger, and this is partly due to the stigma surrounding men seeking help for their mental and physical health, as well as the rise of prostate and testicular cancers. Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.

8.6 Australians die every day by suicide. That’s more than double the road toll. 75% of those deaths are men. This Movember it is important we listen to the men in our lives and start meaningful conversations to help alleviate some of life’s pressures.

“Men sometimes aren’t comfortable reaching out and opening up about life’s challenges – or they think they’ll be burdening their friends if they do. If someone you care about seems to be going through a tough time (which many of us are in the current climate of COVID-19), they might not talk about it even if they want to. The first step in looking out for them is reaching out.”

Getting tested or encouraging your loved ones to get tested for prostate and testicular cancers is the best way to help diagnose and prevent the untreated progression of the illnesses.

The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, but that doesn’t mean it’s a disease that only affects old men. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Men who are of African or Caribbean descent, and men who have a family history (a brother or father with prostate cancer), are 2.5x more likely to get prostate cancer. If you’re 50, you should be talking to your doctor about PSA testing. If you’re of African or Caribbean descent, you need to start that conversation at 45. And if you have a brother or father with prostate cancer in their history, do it at 45.

Testicular cancer is the #1 cancer among young guys. Yet 62% of those who are most at risk don’t know how to check for it. Movember urges young men to perform a self-test by checking their own testicles for abnormalities every month, That way if anything changes you can act on it quickly.

To support the cause you can start a fundraiser to grow your own mustache, participate in the ‘Move for Movember’ 60km marathon to honor the 60 men lost to suicide every hour, host your own ‘Mo-ment’ which is a fundraising event of your own choosing or donate via the Movember website.

LiverWELL supports Movember by encouraging men to seek medical help for both mental and physical health disturbances.