1st November 2014
With 600 men diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, the month of Movember plays a huge part in raising awareness of men’s health – according to the chairman of Prostate Cancer UK. Last year the Movember Foundation donated about £17.7 million to the charity.
Prostate Cancer UK is launching Men United versus Prostate Cancer again in January, which was launched last year with comedian Bill Bailey. It is a movement for all men – and women – borrowing the passion, support and language of sport to get men engaged in their own health. There will be a bucket collection at Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium along with another during a match between Cambridge United and Stevenage.
In Cambridge it is not just members of the public who have been joining together as ‘Mo Bros’ to raise awareness of men’s health. The whole Cambridge Urology Partnership has been sporting some spectacular moustaches during the month of November. Oliver Wiseman, a consultant urologist at Nuffield and Addenbrookes hospitals, is one of six urologists and two oncologists who took part this year – and so far they have raised £1300.
‘We thought most of our patients have got problems Movember supports so it was a good way to help raise awareness’ he said. ‘We are just trying to raise awareness about men’s health issues and raise money that helps with research. We all primarily look after patients who have got male cancers and men’s health issues. We have conversations with people you would never normally have about why you are doing Movember. Members of the public start wondering, is it normal I’m having symptoms about my prostate? It does raise patients’ awareness.’