Cancer awareness organizations can be seen all over the country promoting healthy living and education about cancer prevention. But with all of the pink ribbons and red dresses as part of the ad campaign, many of these organizations seem to be geared toward women, instead of men. According to the American Heart Association, "In 2009, CVD [Cardiovascular Disease] was the cause of death in 401,495 females. Females represented 51.0% of deaths from CVD." However, the fact sheet also shows that 296,763 men die from cancer; therefore, representing 52% of the deaths from cancer. With those types of statistics, shouldn't people see more cancer awareness events directed toward men?
Awareness campaigns and prevention ads often highlight the strength of women with month-long events including Pinktober (National Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October), Women’s Heart Health Month (February), and Women’s Achievements (March). Combined with odd days throughout the year, women are recognized and often seem more vulnerable, but what about men?
Testicular Cancer Month (April) and Prostate Cancer Month (September) are there, but why not more visible around schools and in communities? One argument for this difference is that women tend to deal with health issues by finding comfort in a group or forming an organization. These groups are the starting point for awareness. When women become educated about something they tend to communicate it with their friends, family and coworkers. Women tend to reach out, while men generally keep to themselves.
When asked if she believes that most organizations dealing with cancer and health are biased towards women, Kasey Porsch, junior, agrees. An anonymous source claimed, “guys just don’t like to discuss their problems." If men talking about health concerns and raising cancer/disease awareness isn't as socially acceptable as it is for women, maybe a campaign like Movember, a group that began in Australia, will help change that. According to their website, "Movember encourages men to join the movement by growing a moustache for the 30-days of November...to bring much needed awareness to men’s health issues by prompting conversations wherever they go." The funds raised by the organization go towards "men’s health programs that combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges."
So maybe Audubon High School and the surrounding community should take a cue from Movember, and other organizations like it, and help promote men's health and cancer awareness more. Men and women are considered equal in the law; therefore, support for good health should be equal as well.
Awareness campaigns and prevention ads often highlight the strength of women with month-long events including Pinktober (National Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October), Women’s Heart Health Month (February), and Women’s Achievements (March). Combined with odd days throughout the year, women are recognized and often seem more vulnerable, but what about men?
Testicular Cancer Month (April) and Prostate Cancer Month (September) are there, but why not more visible around schools and in communities? One argument for this difference is that women tend to deal with health issues by finding comfort in a group or forming an organization. These groups are the starting point for awareness. When women become educated about something they tend to communicate it with their friends, family and coworkers. Women tend to reach out, while men generally keep to themselves.
When asked if she believes that most organizations dealing with cancer and health are biased towards women, Kasey Porsch, junior, agrees. An anonymous source claimed, “guys just don’t like to discuss their problems." If men talking about health concerns and raising cancer/disease awareness isn't as socially acceptable as it is for women, maybe a campaign like Movember, a group that began in Australia, will help change that. According to their website, "Movember encourages men to join the movement by growing a moustache for the 30-days of November...to bring much needed awareness to men’s health issues by prompting conversations wherever they go." The funds raised by the organization go towards "men’s health programs that combat prostate and testicular cancer and mental health challenges."
So maybe Audubon High School and the surrounding community should take a cue from Movember, and other organizations like it, and help promote men's health and cancer awareness more. Men and women are considered equal in the law; therefore, support for good health should be equal as well.
By Adrianne Nielsen and Laura Granger, adviser
Photo courtesy of Movember Foundation
| American Heart Association Fact Sheet.pdf |
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