Movember
Authors:
Pradipta Paul
Medical Student, Class 2025
Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
Salman Al Jerdi, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
The month of Movember provides an opportunity for healthcare practitioners to focus on various aspects of men’s health, paying particular attention to prostate and testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention, especially in young adults. Overall, men die on average five years younger than women.
Prostate cancer is both the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death amongst men. It is estimated that 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime, with 1 in 41 facing death. As the disease is initially asymptomatic, early, patient-specific screening and discussions with physicians can substantially help shape outcomes.
Although testicular cancer is the most common malignancy among men 20 to 40 years old, risk of death is low if caught early. Despite this, 62 percent of those at risk do not know how to check themselves, increasing the risk of late diagnosis and metastasis.
While the data show that the prevalence of mental illness in men appears to be lower than in women, men are three times more likely to die by suicide, and are less likely to access psychological support. Many premature deaths among men are potentially preventable, if appropriate medical care is accessed at the right time.
Health Care Practitioners (HCPs) are encouraged to visit these links for clinical guidelines regarding various aspects of men’s health.
- US Clinicians; https://www.aafp.org/family-physician/patient-care/clinical-recommendations/recommendations-by-topic/mens-health-clinical-recommendations-guidelines.html
- UK Clinicians; https://www.guidelines.co.uk/summaries/319.more?navcode=171
- Australian Clinicians; https://www.healthymale.org.au/health-professionals/clinical-resources/clinical-summary-guides