Movember!!!!




   We all know that October is Pink month/ Breast cancer awareness month (And to some extent, cervical cancer awareness month). What most of us may not know (up until this week I was in the same category) is that November is actually Movember – Prostate cancer awareness month! So why the strange name? Well Moustache + November = Movember! Comprendez? The idea is for men all around the globe during the month of November to grow moustaches so as to raise awareness about Prostate cancer and other Men’s health issues.

    I’m personally not a fan of facial hair, but in this case I’ll make an exception. It’s for a good cause. An important cause. Being a third year medical student who’s currently doing end-year exams I’ve been obligated to memorize certain statistics:

  • Prostate cancer is the most common visceral cancer in males: If you’re a guy, take a moment to think about all the internal organs you have: Brain, heart, liver, spleen....Basically out of all of them, the one most likely to develop cancer is the prostate!
  • Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men older than 50 years of age, after lung cancer. Let’s take a moment to absorb that. And just because statistics say men over the age of 50, that doesn’t mean that it’s can’t be found in men of a younger age!
  • Men with first degree relatives who’ve had prostate cancer have double the risk of developing the disease themselves! Yes fellas, it’s genetic!
  • It commonly spreads to the bones, causing bone pain, fractures and spinal cord compression. It can also spread to the lungs, liver, peritoneum (Inner lining of the abdomen) and central nervous system in advanced disease!
  • Commonly manifests as urinary obstruction leading to difficulty in passing urine. Urinary obstruction increases the chances of one developing a urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections can spread all the way up to your kidneys and lead to kidney disease, and possibly kidney failure!
  •  However, sometimes it doesn’t present any symptoms at all.


So yeah, it’s definitely something worth talking about and raising awareness over! So go ahead! Save a brother, a father, a grand-father, a boy-friend, a husband, a future-husband! Raise awareness!!

You can get more information about Movember here:
http://www.movember.com/?reset=1

Also, you can enjoy the following informative you-tube video!



Ciao!!!


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