Movember in Moree

30 November 2009

‘Movember’ is in progress around the district and as well as the dodgy ‘mows’ people, especially men, are talking about their health – which is a great thing.

Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant at Moree Community Health Fiona Lysaught said November is the month where we highlight all things relating to men’s health, with particular reference to prostate cancer and depression.

“So what is ‘Movember’ all about and what exactly are we highlighting as issues?” Fiona asked.

The month-long celebration is a way of raising money for two very important areas of men’s health, represented during ‘Movember’ by The Prostate Foundation of Australia and Beyond Blue, an Australian initiative for raising awareness and providing education into depression.

“During the month, men are encouraged to grow a ‘mow’ and raise much-needed funds for research into both cancer and depression,” she said.

Prostate Cancer was diagnosed in 18,700 men in Australia last year and 3000 of those men unfortunately lost their lives to it.

“No longer known as the ‘old man’s disease’, prostate cancer is a treatable and often curable disease of the prostate that lies between the bowel and bladder,” Fiona said.

“The prostate is an organ of the reproductive system whose job it is to produce fluid that protects and enriches the sperm. In young men, it is about the size of a walnut, is donut-shaped and surrounded by the nerves that control erection,” she said.

Men who have the following symptoms need to see their GP:
• Wake frequently at night to pass urine
• Urgent/sudden need to pass urine
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Slow flow and difficulty in stopping urine flow
• Discomfort/pain when passing urine
• Painful ejaculation
• Blood in urine or sperm
• Decreased libido
• Reduced ability to get an erection

“These symptoms can mimic a lot of different problems, all of which need to be checked out by your GP,” Fiona said.

“Quick diagnosis at an early age of the disease, just like all cancer, improves the chances of a cure.”

People can find more information at www.prostrate.org.au and www.beyondblue.com.au

(HNE-2091)

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: (02) 6767 7135