Moving men to stand together in a healthy game-changer

Since it began in 2003, the Movember Foundation has become an extraordinary force.

What started with a group of Australian friends attempting to bring back the moustache has turned into a global phenomenon with almost five million participants who between them have raised €485 million for research into men’s health.

In 2007, the campaign launched in Ireland and Justin Coughlan (JC) – who has been with the Movember Foundation since 2004 – says we, as a nation, are becoming increasingly interested in doing our bit to raise awareness and funds and, most importantly, encouraging men to talk about their health.

“The response to Movember in Ireland has been quite incredible over the past seven years,” he says.

“I feel really privileged to have been able to help Irish men open up about their health concerns, and last month I was honoured to be allowed to speak to the GAA and get the message across about how important it is for us guys to know our bodies, realise when something isn’t quite right and, crucially, get help as soon as possible.

“Generally men have a good support group when they are in their 20s and in college; in their 30s they are busy with careers and families; and by the time they hit their 40s and 50s, they no longer have close male friends to pick up the phone to.”

Communication

“So we want guys to start communicating again and stop keeping problems to themselves: this will help not only with detecting illnesses, but friendship is really beneficial to mental health.

“Like Australia, Ireland has plenty of rural communities, so the GAA will be a great help in getting its members on board and encouraging men to open up with each other.”

This year, the Movember Foundation is hoping to get the male population up on its feet and shifting some weight, as the obesity problem needs urgent attention.

“Our message for 2015 is to encourage people to Move for Movember,” says JC. “Obesity is an epidemic with the potential to cause a lot of damage, particularly in this country.

“So we would like people to get moving for 30 minutes a day for the 30 days of November. Hopefully this will be the incentive for change and everyone will continue to exercise after this date. With the GAA on board, I really believe we can make something happen here.

And the ideal situation is for men to move together; this way they will be getting fit, being out and about and talking to their mates.

“Women have their own way of communicating and are very good at it: for us guys, we tend to bond shoulder-to-shoulder watching a game. So we would like to see the men of Ireland stand together and make it happen. Moving, talking and checking themselves out will be a game-changer for Irish men’s health.”

See cancer.ie; movember.com

Prostate cancer: adopt the ‘living with it, not dying from it’ attitude

“In April 2011, during my annual medical examination, it was noted that my PSA [prostate specific antigen] had quadrupled in four months,” says Kildare man John Monaghan.

“A subsequent PSA test taken six weeks later indicated no reduction so I was referred to a consultant urological and robotic surgeon. Following biopsies it was confirmed that I had prostate cancer but, thankfully, subsequent MRI and bone scans were clear and all the indications at that time were that the tumour was confined to the prostate sac.”

During surgery it was discovered that the tumour had grown and had spread to the seminal vesicle and surrounding tissue. Despite this new development, the operation was a success and Monaghan, who is 71, was discharged within five days and back to his post as professor of mechanical engineering at Trinity College Dublin.

However, there were some complications. “Unfortunately, because of the additional surgery required to clean up the spread of the tumour, I was left incontinent,” he says. “Continuous pelvic floor exercises and physiotherapy over the following months to tackle the incontinence were unsuccessful, so in October 2012, I had surgery to fit an artificial male sphincter which was successful and, needless to say, that was a great relief.”

But in 2013, his PSA levels began to rise again and Monaghan underwent seven weeks of radiotherapy. Although this was successful for a time, tests showed raised levels again and it was decided that he should go on hormone therapy to control cancer cell activity.

“In July 2014 I started on hormone injections, which are now repeated every three months,” he says. “But over time prostate cancer cells can become resistant to hormone therapy and, in my case, that appears to be starting. My PSA has again started to rise and while it’s still very low, at less than 0.03, it could indicate the onset of further biochemical action.

“However, thankfully following bone and MRI scans in 2014 and a further MRI in June this year it appears that, as yet, the cancer is not metastatic. So the plan is to check my PSA over the coming months and if the upward trend continues, I then move on to daily tablets in conjunction with the three-monthly injections, and if this proves unsuccessful, it probably means moving on to to the next stage, which is chemotherapy.”

Thanks to his annual medical check-up, Monaghan is now in the right hands and his cancer is being monitored. He says it is crucial for men to know what is going on inside their bodies and, in accordance with Movember, to keep talking.

"From 55 years onwards men should have their PSA checked at least once a year as prostate cancer is a silent killer which can grow very slowly or advance very quickly," he warns. "Also, if you do get a diagnosis, talk to someone else who has gone through the process, such as Mac [Men Against Cancer], or get advice from the Irish Cancer Society.

“And adopt the attitude that you are living with prostate cancer, not dying from it. Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass: it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”