For millions of men around the world, the month of November encompasses so much more than a hearty plate of turkey and stuffing. It’s a chance to raise awareness about their health – including the importance of getting screened annually for prostate cancer – by growing a bit (or a lot) of facial hair.
“Movember” was launched in 2004 by a group of friends in Melbourne, Australia, who grew a mustache for 30 days, all while raising funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Since its inception, the “Movember” movement has gained traction globally, boasting more than 6 million participants and funding over 1,250 men’s health projects.
According to Dr. Jamison Jaffe, a urologist at Langhorne’s St. Mary Medical Center, this month-long initiative is helpful in encouraging men to schedule that yearly checkup.
“Guys grow facial hair just as an acknowledgment of men’s health, and it really is awesome. Historically, women are really proactive about their care, where men are not as good at routine screenings,” he said. “It is a month where, by drawing recognition and attention to prostate cancer, testicular cancer, just overall men’s health, hopefully we continue with the strong messaging that reaches out to the community and reminds guys to take better care of themselves.”
Jaffe recommends prostate cancer screenings starting at age 50. This, he said, is the No. 1 non-skin cancer in men.
“If you know 10 guys, at least one is going to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. It’s a very, very common disease,” he explained. “With a family history, a guy has about a 1-in-5 risk of developing prostate cancer. African Americans are also at a higher risk. They’re at about the same rate a white man would be with a family history.”
The chances of prostate cancer being fatal are low if it’s caught early through screening. Although this type of cancer tends to be slow-growing, many men are negatively impacted by it because they didn’t make that simple appointment.
“When guys come in late and they haven’t been screened and it’s spread outside the prostate, their options become more limited and chances of the word ‘cure’ are not really there,” said Jaffe. “It becomes more of a containment situation, where we’re just trying to control it the best we can. But once it’s outside the prostate, there’s really nothing we can do to cure it.”
Too often, Jaffe said men are resistant to the examination because it’s not required until much later in life – a time when they’re more likely to overthink the situation.
“Women start earlier with the gynecologist in their teens, so they’re used to invasive exams. But guys, because it starts later, they’re not. Guys are just not like women. If all my patients were women, my life would be so much easier,” he said. “From a urologist standpoint, the most important thing is that the guy shows up once they’re in the age to be screened for prostate cancer. They should be showing up once a year for an exam. Hopefully, this month reaches out to them so they do understand that it’s normal, it’s routine, it should be done in everyone.”
Earlier this month, Today show personality Al Roker, 66, became an unexpected spokesperson for prostate cancer screenings after he was diagnosed and underwent a successful surgery. He pleaded with men – especially those in the African American community – to take their health seriously.
“The problem for African American men is any number of reasons, from genetics to access to healthcare,” Roker said on the show. “So, we want to make it available and let people know they’ve got to get checked.”
Although the exam is uncomfortable, Jaffe said it’s “a small payment” that could potentially save a life.
At St. Mary, Jaffe, who is fellowship-trained in robotics surgery, uses state-of-the-art treatment for prostate cancer, including radiation technology and therapy.
For those hesitant to voluntarily enter a hospital environment with COVID-19 on the rise, Jaffe stressed that all workers and patients are carefully screened before entering, and that it’s safer than going to the grocery store. He reflected on how many patients delayed routine healthcare in the spring because they feared contracting the virus.
“Bad things were happening as a result of ignoring routine health,” he said. “I think we’ve learned a lot over the last few months and, as a result, we’re still able to provide care to the patients in a very safe fashion.”
Jaffe works out of the main building, 1201 Langhorne-Newtown Road, Langhorne; and at St. Mary Health Feasterville, 178 W. Street Road, Feasterville. Visit trinityhealthma.org/provider/jamison-jaffe-do to make an appointment. Visit us.movember.com for more information on “Movember.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
