Movember and Men's Health: Cancer Screening Worth Talking About

What this observance is

Each November, the Movember movement encourages men to grow mustaches to raise awareness and funds for men's health. Since 2003, the Movember Foundation has focused on three areas: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health. (In the United States, a broader Men's Health Month is also observed in June.) The shared goal is to make it easier for men to talk about health topics they might otherwise avoid — including cancer screening.

The cancers in focus

According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men in the United States, and it is most common in older men. NCI notes that about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, that most men diagnosed do not die from it, and that it occurs more often in Black men, who are also more likely to die from it. The prostate is a small gland in the male reproductive system that sits below the bladder.

NCI describes testicular cancer as most often beginning in germ cells (the cells that make sperm). It is rare and is most frequently diagnosed in men aged 20 to 34, and NCI notes that most testicular cancers can be cured, even when found at an advanced stage.

What NCI says about screening

The screening picture is nuanced, and it is worth being accurate rather than prescriptive. For prostate cancer, NCI notes that screening tests exist but that decisions about them are complex; NCI presents prostate screening as something to weigh carefully, and the right choice depends on a man's age, risk, and preferences. This is very much a "talk with your doctor" decision — you can read more on our prostate cancer screening page.

For testicular cancer, NCI points out that there is no routine screening test. Awareness of one's own body and reporting a new lump or change to a doctor is the practical approach.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all rule, the useful takeaway is a conversation. Our free screening check-up tool can help men organize which screenings might apply to them before talking with a clinician, and our cancer screening guidelines by age page offers general context.

How to take part

• Use November as a prompt to talk with a healthcare professional about prostate screening if it is relevant to your age and risk.
• Report any new testicular lump or change promptly — most turn out to be treatable when addressed early.
• Encourage the men in your life to have these conversations.
• Remember Movember's focus on mental health too; well-being is part of the picture.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Given my age and risk, should I consider prostate cancer screening, and what are the trade-offs?
• What testicular changes should I report, and how soon?
• Does my family history or background affect my screening decisions?
• What other health checks make sense for me right now?