Every year for the month of November the Movember organization runs a world-wide awareness and fund raising event for prostate cancer and other cancers which affect men. It may or may not surprise you, how many do not know that there are treatments for prostate cancer when detected early. This is why it is sooo important for ALL MEN to have a yearly check-up.
Some UK statistics Movember collected ….
- Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK. Over 40,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer ever year and there are 250,000 men currently living with the disease
- 1 in 9 men in the UK are likely to face prostate cancer in their lifetime. This is comparable to the 1 in 9 women that are estimated to get breast cancer
- 2,209 men in the UK were diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2009
- 47% of testicular cancer cases occur in men under 35 years and over 90% occur in men under 55 years
- 1 in 4 British adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any one year
A bit shocking isn’t it! But it’s not all bad, some top advice from Movember to staying healthy …. (and not just for the lads – we could all follow this advice 
)
KNOW YOUR BODY
Look after yourself, know what symptoms to look out for and know your risks. If something seems out of the norm, alert your doctor to it.
KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
Family history is one of the most powerful tools to understanding your health. Family history affects your level of risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, among other illnesses. It all starts with a conversation; talk to your family and take note of illnesses that a direct relative has experienced.
DON’T SMOKE
If you do smoke, stop! Smoking causes more than 8 in 10 occurrences of lung cancers in the UK. Studies show that smokers in their 30s and 40s are 5 times more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers.
BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
If you are not already physically active, start small and work up to a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Stay on the move throughout the day; long periods of sitting increase your risk of disease. Every little bit counts – take the stairs instead of the lift or take a walk during your lunch break.
EAT A HEALTHY DIET
Fill up with fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and choose healthy proteins like lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and nuts. Eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugars. Moderation is key, as is eating a wide range of food to ensure you get a variety of nutrients. The best source of vitamins is from food.
STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Balance calories from foods and beverages with calories you burn off from physical activity. Obesity and being overweight pose a major risk for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and certain cancers.
DRINK ALCOHOL ONLY IN MODERATION
Alcohol can be part of a healthy, balanced diet, but only if consumed in moderation. The UK government advises that men should not drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol each day, the equivalent to a pint and a half of 4% beer.
MANAGE YOUR STRESS
Stress, particularly long-term stress, can be a factor in the onset or worsening of poor health. Managing your stress is essential to your health and well-being. Take time out of each day and go for a walk or do something you find relaxing.
SLEEP WELL
The quality of your sleep can dictate how much you eat, how fast your metabolism runs, how fat or thin you are, how well you can fight off infections, and how well you can cope with stress. Keep a regular pattern of sleep, going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time is key.
- Have you had your Yearly Check-up?
- No! ~ here’s your reminder - TO GET IT DONE!
Please pass this on and do pop over and check out my MoSista page, Movember works and grows with your help.
Take Care
Julie
Barry Wells on 
Charles Stanley on 
Julie on 
Adrienne on 
Amy Hagerup on 
David Leonhardt on 
Mary Stephenson on 
Twitter: timbo1973
Hey Julie
Movember is a great way of raising the awareness of Prostate cancer. I may even grow a moustache myself this year!
I’m a typical bloke who doesn’t like going to the doctors but I have actually been quite recently and was given a clean bill of health at least. I thought there was a screening program for prostate cancer in the UK but supposedly not unless a close relative has had it.
Tim Bonner recently posted..Why Customer Experience Means Everything
Twitter: jmd164
Hi Tim,
Movember most certainly is a great organisation. They just keep growing every year – not just Mos, but awareness.
Yes, blokes aren’t the best with doctors and check-ups and am pleased to hear you did and all is clear
Yeah, go on, grow a mo, a great excuse not to shave all month!
Thanks for stopping by Tim,
Have a relaxing Sunday
Julie
Twitter: adriennesmith40
Hey Julie,
I remember when you did this last year. See how time flies by! Here is it November already. Wow…
This is a great cause and I’m very blessed that none of the men in my family or friends have had prostate cancer. As you know though, my Dad did fight it for over 45 years but it was a rare form of cancer.
Either way, it’s something more people need to be aware of and hopefully will get to the doctor for those checkups. I don’t want to hear them say later on that they “wish” they would have gone.
Thank you for making us aware of what time of the year it is again. I’ll be sure to pass this message along.
Thank you for your contribution Julie.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Are You Making These Twitter Mistakes
Twitter: jmd164
Hi Adrienne,
I know what you mean – the time does seem to have passed so quickly. I find it hard to believe it’s November already, I had to rush and book our flights last week before the price went up, for our Christmas holidays.
Pleased to hear you’ve no loved ones affected with prostate cancer, your dear Dad was a real fighter for all those years, bless him. Yes, men need to get the check-up and not wait till they’re older either, as early detection is treatable.
Thank you Adrienne for your support
Have a great Sunday
Julie
Twitter: barry_wells
Hi Julie, sorry I’m so late.
I take my hat off to you for doing this every year.
The stats are quite alarming aren’t they and yet most men worry about going to see a doctor. Chuff that I want to know what’s going on as soon as i notice anything untoward.
I’ve had some concerns myself this past year but am thankful that I went to the doctors, had all the tests, scans and camera’s and my issue isn’t a major one….. Phew
I’ve got an hospital stay coming up soon to take care of my issue and as soon as it’s here that’s my starting point.
To give up smoking, as I smoke way to much.
To lose weight, as I’m way to heavy.
and to get fit. I’ve started playing basketball again but due to current issue that’s a little hit and miss lately (excuse the pun).
My diet is a good one and I don’t drink to much… Maybe a few cans a month but then I can go without for months at a time
Best of luck in your efforts Julie.
All the best,
Barry
Barry Wells recently posted..Promote Yourself and Your Blogs
Twitter: jmd164
No apologies needed Barry, I’m well behind with things myself and I know you haven’t been well of late. I thank you and appreciate you stopping by and for your donation – Movember UK broke records this year.
It seems to be a common thing among men to visit the Doctor for check-ups, but once one goes, it’s really not that bad. Losing weight during winter and right before the Christmas celebrations is rather a hard thing to do – well, for me anyway. If you already have a good diet, the exercise is usually the problem zone with alot of people, now you’ve got back into your basketball Barry, you can carry on having your couple of pints without worrying about the calories
I hope all goes smoothly with your op and a quick recovery Barry.
Thanks again for your support
Take care
Julie
Julie
It is a really good thing that they are doing. It is such a noble cause. I wish there were more organizations like them who could help spread more awareness about such diseases. Even one life saved because of that will mean the whole event was a success. People today need to be more aware of such things as it is something that can affect anyone at anytime.
Daniel
Hi Julie, felt good reading your post. It came up as something warm in a cold chilly morning. I think you aren’t unaware of the way people are getting on with life. And the only time they think about health is when they face a dire situation. Your post startled me for sometime, I wasn’t aware of the number of cancer victims, felt bad for all those people suffering. I will try to stay healthy and safe, thanks for sharing the post.