Movember moustaches encourage men to seek health checks

Men are growing moustaches this November to raise awareness of men’s health and encourage preventive checks, ORF Burgenland reports. The campaign’s name combines “November” and “moustache,” and it has drawn attention to prostate and testicular cancer, as well as men’s health more broadly, since 2003.

Men should regularly check their testicles from puberty to age 45 and see a urologist promptly if they notice a change. Annual prostate checks are recommended from age 50.

Gottfried Pfleger, head of urology at Oberwart Clinic, said prostate cancer is highly treatable when detected early. He described the current screening process as a three-step programme: a blood test to measure PSA, an MRI if the result is abnormal, and a biopsy if the scan also raises concerns. He said a physical examination is no longer needed as the first step.

ORF Burgenland presenter Thomas Hochwarter was diagnosed with testicular cancer during a preventive check. Oberwart and Kittsee clinics will offer screening on November 9 from 5pm to 9pm, without an appointment or referral.