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Grow a Moustache, Save the World

November 4, 2015

Much as you may think so, your man isn’t growing out his November moustache (just) to annoy you. Moustaches are no longer restricted to the suffocating territories of creepy uncles and Victorian circus performers. They’re the cool thing to do. Since 2003, “Movember” has grown into a massive movement that’s spread from Australia to many countries around the world.

So, what is Movember exactly?

Movember is about fun. It’s about male bonding. It’s about teamwork and a sense of pride. It’s about education, ethics and community engagement. Above all, it’s about the health of you and your loved ones. Movember is about the fight against prostate & testicular cancers and poor mental & physical health among men. The Movember Foundation, founded in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, works to raise awareness about these cancers, as well as about men’s health issues such as physical inactivity and poor mental health. By coming together as a team - whether you’re a group of coworkers, family members or neighbors - growing a November mustache means raising money for funding cancer research and showing solidarity for those who have been diagnosed with these male health issues.

Male cancers

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 16 to 35 years old. If detected early, testicular cancer is extremely treatable. The problem is that most men aged 16 to 35 aren’t expecting to become victims of cancer. This lack of education and vigilance leads to serious consequences - if testicular cancer isn’t caught until the later stages, survival rate drops from close to 100 percent to 80 percent. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. One third of all prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men over the age of 75. At 84 percent, survival rates for prostate cancer are lower than that of testicular cancer. As education and cancer screenings become more widespread, survival rates are increasing, but there is still much work to be done.

Male illnesses & risk factors

Poor mental health is a notoriously underfunded sector - not just in the US, but in most countries around the world. Even in those nations that provide their citizens with universal healthcare, social stigmas and a lack of education mean many men suffer from mental health issues in silence. Physical inactivity not only raises risk factors for illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but it also significantly increases your chances of developing cancer.

So what can you do to improve male-specific health issues?

Get screened. Don’t skip your annual physical examination with your family doctor. Not all symptoms are obviously detectable. And no investment is as important as your health.
Self-exam monthly for testicular cancer. Check for lumps or swelling. For more details on how it’s done, check this handy diagrams.
Eat healthy and exercise regularly. A balanced diet and frequent physical activity will not only decrease your chances of developing cancer, but will also make you feel better. (Thanks, endorphins!)
Grow a mustache, or donate to the cause on behalf of someone who is. If you’re in the U.S., visit the US Movember Foundation or no-shave.org.

If you’re in Spain, join #TeamFOREO in the fight against prostate and testicular cancers. Visit FOREO’s Movember page to join in. Participating barbershops will use the LUNA™ for MEN and offer a free shave to any participating Movember man to keep your mustache looking sleek and groomed all month long. Plus, anyone to purchase a LUNA™ for MEN from participating vendors or FOREO.com during the month will see the profits from the sale donated to the Movember Foundation to continue efforts in the fight against prostate and testicular cancers.