Razors and trimmers move aside, Movember is here!

As we bid goodbye to October, also marked as the breast cancer awareness month, Movember brings to limelight another concerning health issue. Movember, a portmanteau formed by combining the two words, moustache and November, has a lot to do with improving men's health.

While the female population is more prone to consult a doctor when they feel the need to, men often are found to be more reluctant. For reference, count the number of times your dad brushed away the thought of visiting the doctor by saying it is just a "minor discomfort."

However, men are no less likely to fall victim to ailments. In order to bring light to these issues, a group of men in Melbourne, Australia coined the idea of not shaving their moustache for a month. The aim was to use the money that would rather have been spent on grooming to raise awareness for men's health, both physical and mental.

Following that, a piquant event known as Movember was started in 2003 to highlight issues such as testicular cancer, prostate cancer and mental health. From then on, the Movember Foundation has spread its grasp around the globe and raised millions of dollars for this cause. These funds are used to tackle men's health concerns, provide consultancy and raise awareness.

Some lesser known facts about prostate cancer, include it being the leading cause of cancer in men and accounting for about 15 percent of cancer in all men. But all is not gloom and doom, as early detection can boost survival rates up to 98 percent. Furthermore, the symptoms are easy to spot. It generally effects men aged 50 and above. A standard blood test can often detect its traces in the body. 

Testicular cancer is more common in younger men, typically aged 15-35, and is the most common form of cancer within this age range. The good news is, it can be self-detected and accounts for only 1 percent of all male cancers. However, in the end, we are bound by the clichéd statement, prevention is better than cure.

Often times we forget the true purpose behind a fad while becoming too busy executing it. It is a simple idea with a meaningful cause. This month is an opportunity to use this style statement to raise awareness as well. A statement moustache is trendy, and a great conversation starter, so let's put that to good use by focusing on men's wellbeing.