Every year, November is dedicated to changing the face of male health. Movember is a charity aimed at raising funds and improving the outcomes for men’s physical and mental health. During November, they run events from walkathons to gaming challenges, to their most famous fundraiser… we’ll give you a hit: you might have noticed your husband’s (or wife’s) annual commitment to growing that tash you love so much…

But whilst it’s important to embrace a sense of positivity and maintain one’s sense of humour, the seriousness of the issue cannot, and should not, be taken any less seriously.

Why? Because in the UK, as in many other countries, there remains a huge, yet misplaced, social stigma around male health. Moreover, there is a stigma attached to men acknowledging the need for, and then seeking, help when it comes to their mental or physical health. Life expectancy for men in the UK is 79.4 years whilst for women that number is 83.1. Men are more likely to die by suicide and are 67% more likely to succumb to cancer due to late diagnosis.

It is time to remove any remaining shame or societal sensitivity around discussing men’s health, and to encourage all men to put their health ahead of their peers' opinions. We are, after all, all only human, no matter our gender.

Testicular cancer

In the UK, approximately 2,300 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year. That equates to just 1% of cancers diagnosed in men. Yet whilst, statistically speaking, testicular cancer is rare, men in their early 30s are most likely to get it although men aged between 15 and 49 are generally at risk.

Fortunately, the survival rate is 95%, though there is of course still work to be done to increase that number further.

Yet, perhaps the bigger worry of testicular cancer when rates of survival are so high belongs to the side effects of long term treatment, which can include: Infertility The side effects of testosterone replacement therapy:

• Tiredness
• Erectile dysfunction
• Weight gain

Cancer treatments, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, may also be required, both of which can lead to side effects like:

• Sickness
• Fatigue
• Diarrhoea
• Hair loss
• Kidney damage
• Infertility

Such side effects will not only impact the physical quality of a man’s life, but the impact on his life can be strong enough to affect his mental health too, which we consider below.

If the cancer is particularly advanced, it can spread to the lymph nodes (part of the immune system) often leading to the need to remove the nodes in the stomach - just one more reason why conversations about changes to the body or symptoms starting to show need to be had as soon as possible. Delaying a visit to your GP, potentially because of any embarrassment or awkwardness, delays treatment and can lead to increased complications or a more invasive treatment plan.

Prostate cancer

Another type of cancer specific to men, and closely linked to testicular, is prostate cancer. However, unlike the low incident rate of testicular cancer, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in England. In the UK, there are over 130 new cases diagnosed every day. It’s the most common cancer in men overall.

Detecting prostate cancer early is vital in ensuring the highest chances of survival. Current figures show that 78% of men diagnosed with it survive for 10 or more years, although there is not yet any solid evidence highlighting any preventable risk factors.

Frustratingly, most men with early stage prostate cancer do not exhibit any signs or symptoms but there are some indicators that can help catch it early:

• Trouble urinating
• A weaker flow than usual
• Increased need to urinate, especially during the night
• Sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate
• The sensation that you haven’t emptied your bladder completely
• Dribbling after you have finished urinating

If there is any concern in your mind at all, it is important that you seek medical advice as soon as possible. Early diagnosis, in the majority of cases, can be lifesaving.

Mental health and suicide

Let’s just put this out there:

• Globally, men account for 60% of all suicides - on average a man commits suicide every minute.
• In the UK, 75% of suicides are attributed to men and it’s the biggest cause of death in men under 50.

For suicide to be the leading cause of death in any demographic, is tragic.

Yet it is mental health issues that men are perhaps most adept to keeping hidden. In England, almost 1 in 8 men (12.5%) suffers from one of the more common mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety.

These clinically diagnosed disorders can manifest from a huge variety of causes, not least of all the stress of the above mentioned cancers. Depression and anxiety are not male-specific: the cause and development of such mental health disorders are broadly speaking the same for us all: work, family, health, money… universal causes of stress, which the modern world only exacerbates as we move into longer working days, less ability to switch off, and an increased pressure to keep up with what social media portrays to be the perfect life.

And yes, absolutely: the global pandemic is certainly not helping to squash that growing figure. As a result, men may also be more likely to resort to damaging coping mechanisms such as excessive alcohol consumption or drug use.

Remember: It’s healthy to ask for help…

Many men find it more difficult to ask for help, or admit to needing it, than their female counterparts. But ignorance is not bliss. When it comes to health, it’s quite the opposite, so seeking support sooner, rather than later, will always be the smart move.

Part of the reticence to seek clinical guidance may be wrapped into how we assume a trip to the GP will require formality and seriousness. However, a simple visit to a local pharmacy may help you to more quickly ascertain preemptive and early stage medical help.

If you are worried about any of the above, there are a number of key channels of support you can easily access:

• Mental health: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ and https://www.mind.org.uk/
• Suicide: https://www.samaritans.org/ and https://www.thecalmzone.net/
• Cancer: https://prostatecanceruk.org/ and https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

MedicAlert can help too. Our service supports everyone living with an underlying medical condition, whether it be a physical or mental condition. Membership allows our members to feel safe, providing the peace of mind and confidence to remain active, join in and live life on their own terms.

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