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Men have mo fun with this month's fund-raiser
This month has been re-branded as Movember, in recognition of men across the country growing moustaches in order to raise funds for good causes and promote awareness of men's health issues.
This month has been re-branded as Movember, in recognition of men across the country growing moustaches in order to raise funds for good causes and promote awareness of men's health issues.Hannah Gray meets some "mo growers" from the Peterborough area and find out why this event is so important.
He may not be sporting a 'tach this month, but John Gibbs is only too aware of how important funds from Movember are, and also how vital it is to raise awareness of men's health problems.
In 2000, John (62), from Longthorpe, Peterborough, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
After having his prostate removed the same year, the prognosis was initially good, but today he has to live with the knowledge that there is a risk he could become ill in the future.
His level of PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, a protein which is released into the bloodstream by the prostate, began to rise soon after his surgery.
A rise in this protein can indicate cancer, as well as other less serious conditions relating to the prostate.
John said: "They say it's likely that I have still got it, so it's a matter of what stage, if any, do you decide what to have?"
John admits that his diagnosis, and the risks for the future, have changed his outlook on life.
"I was reading an article and there was a guy there who divided his life into 'before cancer' and 'after cancer' and I thought 'yeah, a lot of us do'. It becomes a defining moment in your life," he said.
"There has been a definite change in my lifestyle. I don't worry about things like a new car or clothes – money.
"Your priorities in life do definitely change. You take a lot more care of your health and change your diet, you exercise more and generally you try and keep your immune system up."
John is determined to use his experiences to help others. He is vice chairman of the Cambridgeshire branch of the Prostate Cancer Support Association, and also volunteers to work on a helpline the association runs.
"I think being part of the Prostate Cancer Support Association is enormously reassuring because you're with people who have got the same problems as yourself," he said.
Men are generally regarded as being reluctant to deal with any health issues or concerns, and John says this can continue even once they have been diagnosed.
"Because of the helpline, I'm aware that some men, when they've been diagnosed, go into shock. They don't really want to confront the disease and it's often their wives that ring up and want to talk about it. They often find it difficult to come to terms with it," he said.
Prostate cancer is a difficult disease in that it, initially, can be symptom-free.
"It had got the name The Silent Killer because, until the disease became very advanced, there weren't any symptoms," John said.
"With breast cancer, if there's a lump you would know that it's a good time to do something about it."
Prostate cancer can be detected through a test for PSA and also by a digital rectal examination.
The problem with a PSA test is that while high levels of the protein can indicate cancer, they can also be linked to other conditions and problems with the prostate which are not as serious, and are quite common among men as they get older.
The message really is to ask for a test if you are concerned.
John said: "Recently I spoke with the wife of a man who had being having serious back pains and they diagnosed as having arthritis when it turns out it was late stage prostate cancer. You have to think if he'd had a PSA test at an earlier stage they may have been able to do something.
"I think that to me brings it home that men over the age of 50, if they are getting any problems in that area, should perhaps go to the doctor and ask for a PSA test. It would be better to be safe than sorry. If you wait until the symptoms do develop, to be honest it could be too late."
So early detection really is the key.
John said: "I think in the majority of cases, prostate cancer is slow-growing so if it's detected early, there is the option to do something about it. The days when cancer was a death threat to a certain extent have receded so there is very definitely a lot that can be, and is being done if it's caught in the early stages."
Elsewhere online:
For more information, visit www.movember.com, and www.prostate-cancer.org.
Next page: The aim of the Movember FoundationThe aim of the Movember Foundation
The Movember Foundation is an Australian-based, not- for-profit, charitable organisation that implements the Movember event each year across the world.
At the start of Movember men register with a cleanly shaven face. The Movember participants – known as Mo Bros – then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their moustache and along the way raise as much money and awareness about male health issues as possible.
In England, all funds raised in Movember go to the Prostate Cancer Charity, which was set up in 1996.
The reason for making the event a little bit silly is that, traditionally, men have a reputation for not wanting to go to the doctors or have regular health checks.
The aim of Movember is to change this attitude, make men's health fun by putting the Mo (moustache) back on the face of our men.
Elsewhere online:
For more information, visit www.movember.com, and www.prostate-cancer.org.
Mo growers: Royal Haskoning
While the Mo Growers from Royal Haskoning in Bretton seem to be having fun with their 'taches, it would appear their facial fuzz is not necessarily going down well with their other halves.
Scott Underwood (39), a coastal and river scientist said: "My partner hates it.
She can't wait for it to go. She's stopped kissing me. If I go to give her a kiss now she winces and gives me a cheek."
As well as having an effect on his love life, Scott has also found the process a bit uncomfortable and went so far as to condition his 'tach to soften it and stop it itching – although he maintains it didn't do much good.
Despite all this, Scott seems to have enjoyed the experience – especially having his picture taken with his 'tach idol Dick Strawbridge. Related: Video: Interview with eco expert Dick Strawbridge.
His colleagues at Royal Haskoning have also been having fun.
Greg Shaw (27), an environmental scientist, said he has been enjoying beinable to stroke his 'tach.
"There is some kind of supernatural power behind the mo, it's great for thought processes, it's quite calming," he said.
And Andrew Robinson (31), a flood risk consultant, said people have been commenting on the new image it's given him.
"People are saying I look like a '50s clerk, and I should have a waistcoat," he said.
There are six Mo Bros at Royal Haskoning in Peterborough, plus others working for the company across the country. Altogether they estimate they have raised 1,000.
Crucially, their new facial fuzz has got people asking them what it's all about.
"It definitely creates awareness, it's very effective," Greg said.
Halcyon Software
Business trips to Australia led to Donnie MacColl, right, getting involved with Movember.
He went out there both last year and this summer and saw the enthusiasm our Antipodean cousins have for the event.
"It's big in Australia," he said.
"Apparently it originates there."
With this in mind, Donnie (41), head of technical sales, decided to drum up some support for Movember back home in Peterborough, and roped in two colleagues, Richard Barrett, a web designer (38) and Bob Rahim (51), a programmer, as well as two of his friends.
Between them they think they've raised about 243, plus had a good laugh along the way.
"I think Richard's is the best," Donnie said. "He struggles the most to grow hair on his face but he's taken the most care of it. Mine and Bob's are a bit all over the place."
Despite the laughs, Donnie admits his facial fuzz hasn't gone down well at home with his wife and two children.
"My son doesn't care less but my daughter can't stand it. The wife won't let me near here.
Every night when my daughter goes to bed she says 'shave it off'. They're supportive from a money point of view but they say it makes me look fatter and they don't like the feel of it."
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