Have you noticed that usually many men stop shaving for the month of November? They grow moustaches and other facial hair for Movember.
“Movember” is something that was started in Australia in 2003 by The Movember Foundation . The purpose was to raise awareness around testicular and prostate cancers. It is marked by a month of not shaving.
That’s all I thought it was. A gimmicky, albeit clever fundraiser.
It’s possible that the pandemic way-of-life has lent itself to an onslaught of facial hair among men long before now. Maybe that’s the reason this month just doesn’t stand out in the same way that it would any other year. Additionally, much media buzz is more about COVID19 lately, making less bandwidth available for “Movember” awareness stories…? It might have almost completely passed me by this year, if it weren’t for a conversation with a patient last week.
It was an enlightening chat, with an elder male patient – let’s call him Mark. Mark explained to me what is really at the root of the movement. It’s something I hadn’t realized despite being in the healthcare field!
He told me that every year during the month of November he uses Movember as an opportunity for conversation. He makes a special effort to raise the topic of health and self-care with any and all young men in his life – including the construction workers he has supervised over the years. The topic of discussion is less about cancer awareness and more about disrupting the stigma of self-care among men.
What my patient Mark sees, is that men need help talking about physical and mental health – in general but especially with each other.
The original intent behind Movember was to raise awareness around prostate and testicular cancers. But apparently the movement has now evolved to include addressing this predominantly silent problem among men.
You’ve probably heard that the lifespan of the average male human is shorter than that of women. Can we say for sure that this is purely biological? Could it be cultural as well?1 An article found over at Harvard Medical School’s Health Publishing (linked below) lists some important reasons for this. “Avoiding doctors” and being “less socially connected” are just a few non-biological reasons.
Guys are not raised to pay much attention to their own health. It’s not “tough” or “macho” to talk about a belly ache or a headache.
This lack of conversation leads to late diagnoses of many different disorders. Some of them can be deadly when not caught early enough.
What I observe as a female healthcare provider:
Men are indeed less likely to show up for care of their own accord, compared to women. Many male patients see me only after female family members become patients first.
Since having this recent conversation with Mark, I have a renewed appreciation for the men in my practice who do initiate care on their own.
The other very important stigma that Movember now helps to address and raise awareness around, is conversation about mental health. The Harvard Medical School article (referenced earlier) also lists a higher rate of suicide among men. Another non-biological reason for the shorter lifespan.
Simple conversation can lend support and help someone feel less alone. And perhaps help him see that reaching out for professional assistance is still a “manly” thing to do.
On any given day I notice that approximately 40% of my patients are men. I am now more cognizant of the unique healthcare culture that I practice in. Seattle is a unique metropolitan area. Self-care for men is either much more accepted here or simply more accessible both logistically and culturally.
If you have men and boys in your life:
Please consider following my patient Mark’s lead. Talk to them about self-care, general healthcare, and annual check ups. Don’t do it just once a year. Talk often. And be open to listening often. Ask them how they’re doing – physically and emotionally. Encourage and model the regular pursuit of preventative healthcare for the men you love.
Dear men and boys, you are loved and deserve to live a long and healthy life. There’s nothing sexier than someone who cares for their health and well being.
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