Blue November: How can men be more careful?

Discussing men's health, compared to the media attention women's health receives, doesn't happen as often as it should.

With this in mind, Blue November was created, a month dedicated to prostate cancer prevention, a disease that affects men more than men.

We can say that for a long time the idea of "taking care of oneself" was primarily associated with women. Fortunately, this scenario is changing.

However, many men still neglect their health.

According to the research "A New Look at Men's Health," conducted in the second half of 2019 by the Lado a Lado pela Vida Institute (LAL) in partnership with VEJA SAÚDE, among the 2,405 Brazilians interviewed, only 33% said they go to the doctor for a routine check-up once a year, and 26% stated that they only do so when they feel unwell. 

Prejudice and a lack of accurate information are the main reasons why men don't seek preventative checkups. In this article, we'll discuss habits that promote men's health, so be sure to read on!

You will see:

• What does Blue November mean?
• What is prostate cancer?
• Blue November: habits that can help men

Schedule your exam for prevention.

CONTINUE

What does Blue November mean?

The campaign began in 1999 in Australia. In Brazil, Blue November was introduced by... Side by Side for Life Institute in partnership with the Brazilian Society of Urology.

Each year the awareness movement gains more followers, and the prejudice against the digital rectal exam, which has always been abhorrent to men, is decreasing.

Created with the aim of preventing and raising awareness about prostate cancer, the campaign also helps to break down male taboos.

The Blue November campaign also helps to show that with early diagnosis, the patient has more than 95% chances of being cured. 

Worldwide, men die, on average, six times more often than women. Many of the causes of death are due to neglect of healthcare.

Simple habits such as maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, not smoking, and exercising regularly can help prevent or delay health problems, such as cancer. 

In the following sections, we will give suggestions for habits that can help maintain good health.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is a tumor that affects the prostate, a gland located below the bladder and surrounding the urethra, the canal that connects the bladder to the external opening of the penis.

This disease is silent and only presents symptoms in its more advanced stages, which is why preventive screening is extremely important.

According to the Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU), all men should consult a urologist annually for an examination starting at age 45.

This visit to the doctor is altered for men who have a family history of cancer, and for black men, who have two to three times greater chances of developing the disease.

Men who fall into these categories should begin having screenings at age 40. 

Prostate cancer can manifest as difficulty urinating, back pain, constant fatigue, or drastic weight loss without apparent cause.

In addition to the digital rectal exam, there is a blood test. However, 201% of prostate cancer cases cannot be diagnosed through a blood test (PSA). Therefore, the digital rectal exam is indispensable. 

Blue November: habits that can help men

It's a fact that eating a healthy diet, exercising, and going to the doctor regularly are great ways to prevent diseases. 

However, there are many men who do not engage in any of these practices. But there are other habits that are essential for a healthy life.

In the sections below, we list some of these topics. 

Avoid alcohol and cigarettes.

According to research conducted by the Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel), high consumption of alcohol and tobacco, which is more frequent in men, increases the chances of urological malignancies. 

For example, bladder cancer and kidney cancer, in addition to potentially contributing to the occurrence of sexual impotence.

Schedule your exam for prevention.

CONTINUE

Taking care of genital hygiene

Men with poor hygiene tend to have a higher chance of developing cancer or other infectious complications. Chronic inflammation caused by the accumulation of secretions in the penis can have a carcinogenic effect. 

Taking care of your sex life.

It is clear that taking proper precautions during sexual intercourse is not exclusive to men, since the use of condoms is a safety measure for both men and women. 

The purpose of condoms is to prevent AIDS, syphilis, HPV, other infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. 

Regular visits to the doctor

As mentioned earlier in this article, men are more reluctant to seek medical attention and end up not giving their own health the attention it deserves. 

If a man only seeks professional help when the symptoms are severe, it is possible that he already has an advanced stage of the disease. 

Prostate cancer prevention

This issue has been addressed throughout the text, but it is worth reinforcing the importance of routine checkups and annual exams for cancer prevention. 

Awareness campaigns have had a great impact in recent years, and more and more men are seeking regular checkups.

We hope that the number of men who put aside prejudice will increase even further, so that the number of prostate cancer cases will decrease.

Did you enjoy the content?

Take the opportunity to read as well. Blue November: learn about the campaign and its importance..

Nathalia Silva

Journalist, writer, and lover of words.

November 2, 2021