Every November, moustaches start appearing for a reason. Movember is a global movement that encourages conversations about men's health, with a particular focus on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. The movement began in 2003 and has since grown into an international effort supporting men's health initiatives.
Movember is about more than growing facial hair. It's an opportunity to ask yourself when you last really thought about your health. For many men, particularly as they get older, regular health discussions and knowing when to seek medical advice can make a meaningful difference.
Why Prostate Cancer Awareness Matters
The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder. Prostate cancer becomes more common with age, particularly after age 50. Movember reports that prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in men worldwide, with more than 1.4 million men diagnosed each year.
One challenge with early detection of prostate cancer is that the disease may not cause noticeable symptoms during its early stages. Prostate cancer often begins toward the outside of the prostate, so it may not affect the urethra and cause urinary problems until the cancer has grown or spread.
What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
The goal isn't to panic when something changes. It's to get the change checked rather than assuming it's simply part of getting older. Possible prostate cancer symptoms can include:
Difficulty starting to urinate
Straining while urinating
A weak urinary stream
A flow that stops and starts
Needing to urinate more often or urgently
Feeling that your bladder has not completely emptied
Needing to urinate frequently during the night
Blood in the urine or semen
Erectile dysfunction
Unexplained weight loss or lower back pain, particularly with advanced disease
Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have prostate cancer. For example, benign prostate enlargement is a very common, non-cancerous condition associated with ageing, and it can cause similar urinary symptoms. Infections and inflammation can also affect the prostate and urinary system.
What About Prostate Cancer Screening?
A prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, test is a blood test that measures the level of PSA produced by cells in the prostate. It can help identify potential problems, but PSA testing is not a simple cancer test.
A higher PSA level doesn't automatically mean cancer. Age, benign prostate enlargement, urinary infections, recent ejaculation and exercise can also affect PSA levels. Likewise, a normal PSA level does not completely rule out prostate cancer.
That's why prostate cancer screening should involve an informed conversation with a healthcare professional about your individual risk and the potential benefits and limitations of testing. Depending on symptoms, risk factors and examination findings, further investigation may be recommended.
If you're concerned about prostate cancer because of symptoms, age, family history, or another risk factor, don't wait for your next annual physical to bring it up.
Testicular Cancer: Know What's Normal for You
Movember also raises awareness of testicular cancer, which tends to affect a younger population. It most commonly affects people between ages 15 and 49, although it can occur at any age. Possible warning signs include:
A new lump or swelling in a testicle
A change in the size or shape of a testicle
Heaviness in the scrotum
A dull ache in the scrotum or lower abdomen
New or unusual discomfort or sensations
Not every lump or change is cancer. Anything new or unusual deserves medical attention.
Becoming familiar with how your testicles normally look and feel can make it easier to recognise a change. If you notice one, make an appointment rather than waiting to see if it disappears.
Why Do Some Men Delay Seeking Help?
Wentworth Grange understands that many of our residents don’t want to take immediate steps. Embarrassment, uncertainty and lack of awareness can contribute to delays in seeking advice for symptoms involving the prostate or testicles. Men may also minimise symptoms, worry about receiving bad news or simply hope a problem will resolve on its own.
Movember provides an opportunity to change that mindset. Seeking medical advice isn't overreacting, and talking about an uncomfortable symptom isn't embarrassing to your healthcare provider. It's part of taking care of yourself.
The same principle applies to men's health in older adults. Changes in urination, energy, sexual function or emotional well-being shouldn't automatically be dismissed as "just getting older." A healthcare professional can help determine whether a change is expected, treatable or something that needs additional investigation.
Men's Mental Health Matters, Too
Men's health isn't limited to physical health. Mental health and suicide prevention are core focuses of Movember. Men should stay connected, make time for friends and have conversations, especially about difficult subjects.
Stress, anxiety and depression don't always look the same from one person to another. Rather than openly saying they're struggling, some men may withdraw from people they care about or notice changes in sleep, mood, motivation or everyday habits.
You don't need to wait until you're in crisis to ask for help. Talk to someone you trust and consider speaking with a doctor or mental health professional if you're struggling. If you or someone else is in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, seek emergency assistance right away.
Make Movember Your Reminder to Take Action
Wentworth Grange provides comprehensive elderly care services to help boost mental and physical health. We want to help families through Movember and make changes. We encourage you to take action by scheduling any overdue routine medical appointments, paying attention to persistent urinary changes, and checking in on your mental health. Early action doesn't mean assuming the worst. It means allowing yourself to find out what's happening. Whether you're 25, 55 or 75, Movember is a good reminder that men's health deserves attention throughout every stage of life. Find out more from the official Movember website and register today.