MEDIA ROOM

To change the face of men’s health is an ambitious challenge, but it is a challenge that Movember is committed to addressing through the programs that we invest in around the world. As one of the largest non-government strategic investors in men’s health programs, we are uniquely placed to play a significant role in improving the health outcomes of the men that we serve.

The Movember Foundation is having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. Globally, Movember is focused on these key areas: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Details about the more than 1,250 men's health projects in more than 20 countries that Movember has funded to date, can be found here.

We strategically invest in research and health services that contribute to less men dying from prostate cancer. Together, we will reduce the physical and mental health side-effects of diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer.

• Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, and more than 1.1 million men are diagnosed each year.
• Globally, over 300,000 men die of prostate cancer each year.
• Current treatments for prostate cancer often result in significant side effects –including sexual issues, urinary problems, bowel problems and associated anxiety and depression.

We invest in three primary areas:

• Biomedical research projects: Working with our men’s health partners, we pull together the brightest minds from around the world to collaborate and better understand the biology of the disease, resulting in improved, accelerated, and tailored treatments for men.
• TrueNTH (pronounced “true north”): The TrueNTH initiative aims to guide those navigating the prostate cancer journey by working with healthcare providers to transform the care provided and deliver resources that improve quality of life. This includes helping people make informed decisions, manage symptoms, maintain a healthy lifestyle and share lived experiences. We improve outcomes and quality of life through collaboration with diverse, passionate, clinical teams as well as supportive partners and caregivers.
• Clinical quality initiatives and registries: These initiatives enable us to identify and promote best quality treatment and care practices that deliver the best results for men.
• In the USA, check out TrueNTH at www.us.truenth.org.

Primary examples of our work include:

Movember + PCF Challenge Awards

These Challenge Awards are multi-year, team science projects to advance treatments and cures for metastatic prostate cancer, through the Prostate Cancer Foundation. To date, Movember has contributed approximately $50 million to these PCF projects. This global impact will help PCF further its aim to provide men in urgent need with new prostate cancer treatments and cures. In 2018, we were excited to donate $3.5 million USD towards six new Movember Foundation + PCF Challenge Award recipients.

TrueNTH Prostate Cancer website (USA)

Through the TrueNTH USA website people can learn more about prostate cancer, listen to the other’s experiences, and self-register to access customized and powerful tools. Available tools include: support for treatment decision making after diagnosis; symptom and side effects management – including but not limited to urinary and sexual side effects; sexual recovery post-treatment for men and their partners; exercise, diet and wellbeing.

We invest in research and health services that contribute to no man dying from testicular cancer and for those that live with the disease a greatly improved quality of life, both physically and mentally.

• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 15-34 years old.
• Testicular cancer rates have doubled in the last 50 years.
• Even in those who are effectively cured of the disease, some will have lifelong effects from the toxic therapies that are used to cure them of cancer.

Because people don’t see this as a large social problem, testicular cancer is desperately underfunded. Movember is tackling the testicular cancer issue through research, health services – ensuring testicular cancer is a public priority and educating men about the disease and what action to take.

Primary examples of our work include:

A major research study out of the UK, funded by Movember, has uncovered several new genetic mutations that could drive the development of testicular cancers in men – and also, very critically, identified a gene, which may contribute to some tumors becoming resistant to current treatments.

These findings provides clues to why around three percent of patients develop resistance to platinum chemotherapy, as well as new insights into testicular germ cell tumors generally.

The Movember’s translational research project

Aims to improve our understanding of why some men with testicular cancer relapse after primary therapy whereas other men are cured. The project will also unearth the cellular mechanisms of relapse, which until now have been relatively poorly understood.

TrueNTH Testicular Cancer website

We want to ensure no man goes through testicular cancer without the knowledge they need and a supportive community behind them. Created with the help of men who’ve been through testicular cancer, our website focuses on knowing your body, seeking treatment if something is wrong, understanding your options, what to expect during recovery, and getting back to living a healthy & happy life. It also features connective tools for psychosocial, peer and decision support. Check out the latest at www.truenth-tc.org.

Mental health is an integral part of a person’s overall health. We are investing in programs to help men and boys stay mentally healthy. In the US, we are focusing on community-level prevention programs to improve mental health.

• Globally, the rate of suicide is alarmingly high. More than half a million men every year take their own life, one every minute. ;
• 4 out of 5 suicides are men.
• 1 out of every 4 adults will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime.
• This is a hidden health crisis that no one is talking about, and it’s the mission of the Movember to make sure that male suicide prevention becomes a global priority.
• Too many men are ‘toughing it out,’ keeping their problems to themselves and suffering in silence. It’s time to break that silence.
• We’re tackling the issue of keeping men and boys mentally healthy through strengthening the social networks of men and boys through tough times, challenging the idea that a “strong and control” man is the only way to be manly and to get men to feel more comfortable talking about significant life events such as becoming a father, breakdown of a relationship or loss of a job.

Primary examples of our work include:

Making Connections

The Movember, in partnership with the Prevention Institute, is funding 14 communities across the US to improve mental health and wellbeing for men and boys. The Making Connections initiative prioritizes those who have particularly high need for community-level attention to improve mental wellbeing, including active and retired armed service members and men and boys of color.

Our approach to addressing mental health in men and boys is based on evidence epitomized in the pivotal 2014 study authored by the Prevention Institute, Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing Among Men and Boys in the U.S. The report found key challenges to achieving mental wellbeing for men and boys in the US include:

• Risks and stressors such as lack of economic opportunity, an unstable economy, growing inequity, and exposure to violence produce anxiety
• Disconnection and isolation—from community, peers, family, children and culture are major factors that undermine men’s mental health
• Male socialization that discourages expression of needs or emotions is negatively impacting men and boys
• Trauma, and its associated symptoms of mental and psychological illness, is more prevalent in the U.S. than in most other countries around the world.
• Active and retired armed service members, veterans, men and boys of color, and their families, are disproportionately impacted by trauma