The movement known in Brazil as November Blue started in 2003 in Australia, and the initial idea came when some friends decided to grow a mustache, to draw attention to male health.

Initially formed by a group of 30 men, an organization has created a nonprofit called Movember Foundation (Movember, a mustache joint, English word meaning mustache, and November), where the objective would be to raise funds for research and treatment aid for prostate cancer among other diseases common among men.

Women also entered the campaign head-on, and while men were encouraged to grow their mustaches, women, in turn, participated wearing blue clothes, and it was then that the term Blue November was adopted in Brazil.

Among Brazilians, the campaign began in 2008, and in addition to providing information on men's health, other actions have since been promoted, such as offering free or discounted prostate exams.

Every day, 42 men die from prostate cancer, and approximately 3 million live with the disease. For this reason, on November 17, World Prostate Cancer Day is celebrated.

Most cases of prostate cancer occur in men over 65 years of age, so health professionals indicate that this type of examination should be performed at least once a year in men over 45 years of age.

Common diseases and symptoms of prostate problems

Although Blue November is strongly associated with cancer prevention, other problems can affect the prostate, including benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis.

Prostate cancer is characterized by the development of malignant cells and reaches up to 68 thousand Brazilians per year, killing up to 15 thousand of them. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is characterized by an overgrowth of the prostate and is usually more common in men over the age of 50. Prostatitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation that may be related to infections or even stress and is usually characterized by pain and swelling.

Among the most common symptoms of prostate diseases are:

  • A constant need to urinate;
  • Sudden desire to go to the bathroom;
  • Difficulty starting to urinate and dripping;
  • Feeling of a full bladder even after leaving the toilet.

So be smart, if any of these symptoms are familiar to you, see a doctor for an evaluation.

Diagnosis and prevention

Two initial tests are of great importance for the diagnosis of the disease: the blood test, using the Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA), and the digital rectal exam. These two exams, when associated, can provide security of about 90% or more, helping in the early diagnosis of the disease.

Besides, there is also PET PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen), a PET Scan exam. This technology, extremely sensitive and specific, allows us to determine the location of the tumor and also if cancer has already spread to other organs.

Obesity is considered one of the risk factors for this type of cancer, so a good way to prevent it is by practicing physical activities and maintaining a healthy diet.