Movember and Prostate Cancer

Movember is Prostate Cancer Month!

For almost 20 years, November has been dedicated to the fight against common health issues affecting men, such as prostate cancer. This disease is one of the most common cancers in men.

Carenity offers you a brief introduction to prostate cancer to start this month more determined than ever!

The Origins of Movember

Did you know that Movember comes from Australia? It was the Movember Foundation Charity that first used the contraction of "mo" (for "moustache") and "November" (for "November") in 2003. Men all over the world are encouraged to grow a moustache from the first to the last day of the month. Beyond this fun symbol, the purpose of this idea is to raise funds for research and prevention.

Some Figures on Prostate Cancer Worldwide

According to the French National Cancer Institute (Inca), prostate cancer is the second most common male cancer in the world. In 2012, there were an estimated 1.1 million new cases, of which about 70% were in the most developed regions of the world. Incident rates (number of new cases) range from 4.5 (South and Central Asia) to 112.6 per 100,000 patients in the United Sates. This year, according to the American Cancer Society’s publication: Cancer Facts and Figures 2018, 164,690 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The mortality rate also varies according to the region of the world: it varies from 3 to 30 and is very low in Asia. Net 5-year survival is over 90% in Puerto Rico, the United States (98.2 %), France, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy and Lithuania. Net survival has increased in most countries of the world. The earlier and more frequent the screening, the more likely prostate cancers are to be treated.

Prostate Cancer in the United States

In the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the third most common cancer; breast cancer and lung and bronchus cancer are the only more prevalent cancers. Prostate cancer represents 9.5% of all new cancer cases in the United States.

Prostate cancer occurs only in men and it is more common in older men (38.8% of cases occur between the ages of 65-74). The median age at diagnosis is 66. It is more likely to occur in men with a family history of prostate cancer and those of African American descent.

It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States (the sixth leading cause of cancer death) and is estimated to be attributed to 29,430 deaths from this disease this year. However, prostate cancer is usually caught before it spreads due to screening and, thus, survival rates are excellent. Net 5-year survival rate in the United States is 98.2%. Nearly 70% of deaths occur in men 75 years of age or older, as the earlier the cancer is detected, the higher the chances of survival.

Prostate Cancer on Carenity

Whether you are affected by this disease, a loved one is affected, or your are simply interested in learning more about prostate cancer, we invite you to read the discussions in our dedicated forums.

- Living with prostate cancer

- My Prostate Cancer Library

- Prostate Cancer Fact Sheet

- Testimonial: Breaking the Taboos of Prostate Cancer 

Add your testimonial by writing to @Lee__R‍  to propose a theme that is close to your heart!

Movember on Carenity

What causes would you like to fight for / against for this month?

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Comment on this article to let us know!

Good Movember to all and feel free to send us pictures of your moustaches!