Shining a spotlight on men's health and wellbeing.
ABOUT MOVEMBER
Movember is the leading charity focusing on men's mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer on a global scale. Its main aim is to shine a spotlight on men's health and to change the way men in need are treated and supported. Each November the charity encourages people to grow a moustache to raise funds and awareness for men's health, and since 2003 Movember has funded more than 1,320 men’s health projects around the world.
Across the world, millions of men are dying too young. A growing number of men, around 10.8 million globally, are facing life with a prostate cancer diagnosis, while testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men. Moreover, it is estimated that every minute a man dies by suicide. When it comes to their health, too many men don’t talk about it and don’t take any action. See how Movember is 'changing the face of men's health':
MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
It is no secret that a stigma still exists around men’s mental health, and sadly, many men feel uncomfortable or embarrassed to talk about their emotions and feelings. They often don't ask for help and hide their problems. There are many reasons for this and one of them is the pressure men face to "man up". The stigma of men speaking out is that it is seen as a form of weakness or not "manly." Men have long suffered in silence due to unrealistic stereotypes and expectations. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We want to encourage men to be more open about their feelings and seek the support they need.
Living with a mental health problem can often have an impact on day to day life, making some things a bit more difficult. Mind offers various tips and guides to help you cope with everyday things like money, work, parenting and more. Also, Mental Health Foundation has some tips backed by research on how to look after your mental health. If you are suffering from high levels of stress, have a look at the Beat Stress, Feel Better guide from Men's Health Forum to learn some coping techniques.
4,188 men took their own life in England in 2023 which accounts for 74% of all registered suicides.
PROSTATE CANCER
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland which is part of the male reproductive system. Cancer is when abnormal cells start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. The cells can grow into surrounding tissues or organs, and may spread to other areas of the body. There are a number of different types of prostate cancer:
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 52,800 men in the UK get diagnosed with prostate cancer every year.
Risk factors
Although, the exact causes of prostate cancer are unknown, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance of getting it:
Age - Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50, and the risk increases as men get older. The most common age for men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer is between 70 and 74 years. If a man is under 50, his risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer is very low, but it is possible.
Ethnicity - Black men have a much higher risk of developing prostate cancer. The reason for this is not clear, but it may be because of genetic factors. Black men are also more likely to develop prostate cancer at a younger age. 'Prostate cancer and other prostate problems: Information for black men' leaflet from Prostate Cancer UK has further information on that.
Family history - A man is two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer if his father or brother has had it, compared to a man who has no relatives with prostate cancer. The chance of getting prostate cancer may be even greater if a father or brother was under 60 when they were diagnosed, or if a man has more than one close relative (father or brother) with prostate cancer. The risk of getting prostate cancer may also be higher if man's mother or sister has had breast cancer or ovarian cancer. This is because of the possibility of inheriting the same faulty genes.
You can check your risk of developing prostate cancer with Prostate Cancer UK’s online risk checker.
The symptoms
Most men with early prostate cancer that's contained inside the prostate, don't have any signs or symptoms. This is because of the way the cancer grows. Men will usually get the symptoms if the cancer grows near and presses against the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis. If this happens, men can experience problems while urinating, such as:
Needing to rush to the toilet to pass urine
Passing urine more often than usual, especially at night
Difficulty in passing urine
Feeling that a bladder has not emptied fully
Blood in urine or semen
Although these symptoms can also be caused by an enlarged prostate, it's important to have them checked by a doctor, who can do further tests to find out if a referral to a specialist doctor is needed.
If prostate cancer has already spread to other parts of the body (advanced or metastatic prostate cancer), it can cause symptoms such as back or bone pain, tiredness and unexplained weight loss.
Below booklets from Macmillan Cancer UK can provide you with more information about prostate cancer, diagnosis and treatment:
TESTICULAR CANCER
Testicular cancer is when abnormal cells in a testicle start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. Testicular cancer usually affects one testicle, however in some rare circumstances it can affect both. According to Cancer Research UK, younger men are more likely to get testicular cancer, as it tends to mostly affect men between 15 and 49 years of age. Testicular cancer becomes less common as men get older.
Each year in the UK, around 2,300 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The most common type of testicular cancer is germ cell testicular cancer, which accounts for around 95% of all cases. Germ cells are a type of cell that the body uses to create sperm. The 2 main types of testicular germ cell testicular cancer are:
seminomas - a slow progressing type of cancer that does not usually spread to other areas of the body.
non-seminomas - these are made of different types of cells. They can be made of just one cell type, or they may be made of a mixture. They include: teratomas, embryonal tumours, yolk sac tumours, and choriocarcinomas.
Risk factors
The exact causes of testicular cancer are not fully understood, but there are some risk factors that may increase the chances of developing it:
Undescended testicle (known as cryptorchidism) - men who’ve had an undescended testicle as a child have a higher chance of getting testicular cancer.
Abnormal cells in the testicle (germ cell neoplasia in situ, or GCNIS) - germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) means that there are abnormal cells in the testicle, which if left untreated, can develop into cancer. It is estimated that GCNNIS develops into cancer within 5 years in about 50 out of 100 (about 50%) of the men who have it.
Family history - men with a brother or father who have had testicular cancer have a slightly higher risk of getting it. The fact that testicular cancer appears to run in families has led researchers to speculate that there may be one or more genetic mutations that make a person more likely to develop testicular cancer.
Previous testicular cancer - a small number of men who’ve previously been treated for testicular cancer may develop a cancer in the other testicle. That’s why it's important to attend follow-up appointments if you have previously been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - some studies show there is an increased risk of developing testicular cancer in men who are HIV positive. In particular, there is an increased risk of a type of testicular cancer called seminoma.
Ethnicity - in the UK, white men have a higher risk of testicular cancer than men from other ethnic groups. The reason for this is not yet known.
The symptoms
The most common symptom is a lump in a testicle. The lump can be about the size of a pea, but may be larger. Other symptoms include:
swelling in a testicle
an increase in the firmness of a testicle
a difference in appearance between 1 testicle and the other
a dull ache or sharp pain in your testicles or scrotum, which may come and go
a feeling of heaviness in your scrotum
If testicular cancer has spread to other parts of your body, men may also experience other symptoms. Cancer that's spread to other parts of the body is known as metastatic cancer. According to the NHS, around 5% of people with testicular cancer will experience symptoms of metastatic cancer. The most common place for testicular cancer to spread to is nearby lymph nodes in the abdomen or lungs. Symptoms of metastatic testicular cancer can include:
pain in the back or lower abdomen – if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen
a cough, breathlessness, difficulty swallowing or a swelling in your chest – if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the chest area, or to the lungs
Rarely, the hormones the cancer makes can cause the nipples or breasts to feel tender. They can also cause breast swelling, which is called gynaecomastia. All these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than testicular cancer, so it’s always important to have them checked by a doctor.
Testicular self-examination
For men, starting at puberty, monthly self-examination of the testicles is an effective way of getting to know this area of the body and therefore detecting testicular cancer at an early, and very curable, stage. Every man’s body is different so by doing self-examination you should know what is normal for you. You should aim to schedule a few minutes every month to check your testicles for any unusual changes. Self-examination is best performed after a warm bath or shower. Heat relaxes the scrotum, making it easier to spot anything abnormal.
Watch this testicular self-examination tutorial to find out how to check your testicles for any suspicious changes:
It's on the Ball charity offers self-check reminders - all you need to do is text ‘BALLS’ to 66777 to receive a free ‘check yourself’ reminder on the 1st of every month.
Speak to your GP as soon as possible if you find a lump or anything unusual in your testicles. Do not delay getting checked out, as in rare circumstances some types of testicular cancer can progress quickly. Also, treatment for testicular cancer is much more effective when started early. Don’t panic, as it may not be a testicular cancer but it still needs to be checked to rule out cancer.
'Understanding testicular cancer' guide from Macmillan Cancer UK can provide you with further information on testicular cancer, diagnosis, and treatment.
FIND INFORMATION & SUPPORT
Resources to help support the men in your life who may be struggling with their mental health. Learn how to start the conversation with confidence and keep it moving in a helpful direction.
A men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the UK and online. It aims to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation.
A charity supporting men experiencing domestic abuse. If you want to talk to someone, you can speak to one of their professional advisors on the phone, by email or on webchat. There are also resources for anyone concerned that a male friend or relative may be abused.
If you are concerned about prostate cancer or prostate problems, Prostate Cancer UK provides a range of information (booklets, podcasts, videos) and support like specialist nurse helpline, awareness talks, support groups and online community.
Get the facts about testicular cancer and find out how to check yourself. There's plenty of articles and videos that will provide you with all the information that you need. Plus, you can connect with and get support of a Nuts & Bolts guide - someone who's had testicular cancer before, and has volunteered to mentor others.
The men's mental health charity offers free therapy sessions and MANUP? Talks, held every two weeks via Zoom. Each therapy session is led by a psychotherapist and it includes a short Q&A at the end to address your questions.
The charity offers practical information and support for men diagnosed with testicular cancer through the support line, regular events, and information packs.
The charity offers help and support for anyone who has been affected by male cancer. You can find relevant resources in the information hub or call Orchid Male Cancer Nurse Specialist to ask them any questions.
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