The non-profit organisation Breathe Foundation, in conjunction with Catwalk Models International, held their annual Movember Awareness campaign on Saturday 29 November in De Ville Centre in Durbanville.
The campaign is presented annually in November to raises awareness and funds for men’s health by encouraging participants to grow moustaches. The campaign focuses on mental health, suicide prevention and tackling prostate and testicular cancer by promoting conversations and early detection.
Awareness
The 2025 theme for Men’s Health Month is “Closing the empathy gap” . This theme highlights the need for greater support, awareness and resources for men’s health issues, which often get overlooked compared to women’s health. Actions include advocacy, awareness and encouraging open conversations about men’s mental and physical well-being, says Silvia Craucamp, chief executive officer of the Breathe Foundation.
“In South Africa, prostate cancer is the leading cancer in men, with a lifetime risk of about 1 in 16, according to the 2023 National Cancer Registry. Testicular cancer is rarer, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 1 749 for men in South Africa as of 2023. While prostate cancer often affects older men (over 60) and is more aggressive in black South African men, testicular cancer is the most common cancer for younger men aged 15 to 45,” Craucamp says.
“Early detection is key with a 99% five-year survival rate if the cancer is still confined to the testicle,” she says.
Warning signs
The warning signs for prostate cancer includes:
- Difficulty starting or maintaining urination;
- Frequent urination, especially at night;
- Weak or interrupted urine flow;
- Pain or burning during urination;
- Blood in urine or semen;
- Pain or discomfort in the hips, lower back or pelvis;
- Erectile dysfunction.
The key warning signs for testicular cancer include a painless lump or swelling in a testicle, a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum and a dull ache in the abdomen or groin.
- Contact the Breathe Foundation on 082 354 9532 or npobreathefoundation@gmail.com with enquiries.
