October has passed, but not so have the days of pink ribbons, pink sports equipment, pink tshirts, pink pins, pink running shoes, pink everything. Boobs— we have certainly come to love them, maybe even obsess over them. Today, they stand as global symbols of solidarity, strength, community and resolve.
Breast cancer awareness is not localized to one 31-day period. Throughout the whole of the year, it is, deservedly, thriving with publicity, marketing, outreach, media coverage and research. The whole movement has developed into somewhat of a phenomenon, its notable success truly effective in increasing funding and consciousness toward the disease.
Now, in the month of November, the focus shifts, but only ever so slightly and silently, to men’s health. Commonly labeled Movember, it is a month dedicated to changing the face of men’s health and to improving general awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and overall men’s wellness.
Frankly, while the two predominant forms of cancer that generally attack specific genders claim a comparable number of lives, we do not see similar crusades— the 5k walks and swag minimal in support of men’s health research funding. While the color pink has morphed into a loud “Come on ladies, we’ve got this” chant, blue has undergone only a subtle reinvention.
Men remain silent soldiers fighting for their lives, with few advocates and little public knowledge. With the diseases equally unforgiving, the treatment equally vicious and the struggle equally unbearable, it seems unfair that such a disparity exists in the activism afforded to these two causes.
According to the National Cancer Institute, there were an estimated 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 2014, resulting in approximately 30,000 deaths. The statistics for breast cancer are similar, with 232,670 new cases and 40,000 deaths.
Based on the article, “A Gender Gap in Cancer,” written in Businessweek, the Prostate Coalition reported that the National Cancer Institute funds $715 million in breast cancer research, and only $376 to that of prostate cancer.
With around 15 percent of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime, and over 2.5 million men currently living with it in the United States, it is unacceptable that the month of November and the Movember movement has not gained more traction or achieved greater effectiveness. Why have we been unsuccessful in pushing for increased federal funding and publicity?
In 2003, the Movember Foundation was created as a leading global organization focused and committed to changing the way people approach and talk about men’s health. According to their website, they have raised $559 million to date and funded over 800 programs in 21 countries. To raise their voices, the Movember foundation established the tradition of growing out their mustaches in November, leading to the international expansion of the concept of “No-shave November.”
“Men who participate in Movember (called Mo Bros) take action to change the face of men’s health by starting clean-shaven on Movember 1st and growing just a moustache (no beards, no goatees) for the month November,” reads the Foundation’s mission. “Movember is more than just an excuse to grow a fine piece of moustachery, it’s about creating conversations while raising funds and awareness for men’s health. It’s about having fun and doing good.”
No-shave November, however, seems to be simply be a vibrant, style trend exciting hairy hipsters and rugged mountain men eager to show off their facial hair growing abilities. Only a fraction of its participants is actually aware of what their Fu Manchus and handlebars are advocating for. Impressive as they are, they simply fail bring consciousness to the movement, because people are not talking about it enough.
While women commonly seek out support groups and openly speak of their health concerns, men tend to be more reserved, keeping their private and sensitive matters to themselves. The medical options available for the prostate and testicular cancers tend to threaten masculinity, with the potential to leave the patient sexually incompetent, a side effect that men likely do not feel comfortable exposing. The patient advocacy for diseases such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer is unmatched to the level that breast cancer has. Women, when faced with a personal struggle, tend to show vulnerability, ask for help and demand action for themselves or their affected friends.
Based on this knowledge, it is clear that men’s health awareness is a responsibility for everyone. The month of November should include a proportionately flamboyant movement to the one in October. We should know about it, be aware of it and have an understanding of it. The funding, publicity, media coverage, activism and research allotted to men’s health should be equal. So, grow out your mustaches. And then take the next step—talk about it.
