A message from Paul Villanti, Executive Director of Programs at Movember:
As the world’s leading men’s health organisation, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know what we’ve been working on; and to connect you with Movember resources and programs we hope you’ll find helpful in these challenging times.
No doubt about it, COVID-19 has thrown a huge spanner in the works. For the men we serve, the effects of COVID-19 have been widespread. Those living with or beyond prostate cancer or testicular cancer may have experienced anything and everything from delayed or cancelled scans, bloodwork and/or treatment, disrupted contact with doctors or fractured follow-up support. These men may have navigated post-treatment in isolation, experienced clinical trials put on hold or found themselves immune-compromised. There are countless other unforeseen difficulties and frustrations men will have experienced, not to mention the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.
We understand, and we want to reach out and keep you informed. For those living with or beyond prostate cancer or testicular cancer, there’s a wealth of straight-shooting information that can help shed light on any uncertainty, confusion or sense of isolation you’ve experienced as a result of disruptions to your treatment or recovery.
• Movember True North Prostate Cancer – an information-rich website designed to provide knowledge and solutions to assist in improving the quality of life for those living with and beyond prostate cancer.
• Movember True North Testicular Cancer – an online support tool designed to connect men with a community of others experiencing a similar journey, and information to assist in rebuilding confidence during and after treatment.
• Movember Mental Health – online information and tools to guide and support men in staying connected.
Movember is working round the clock to support our community through COVID-19. While we’ve been busy with communications and initiatives focused on mental health and helping people to stay connected, our prostate cancer and testicular cancer researchers have continued their important work throughout. We continue to work closely with our global network of clinicians, researchers and men’s health partners to ensure research carries on safely and is impacted as minimally as possible by COVID-19. To ensure that important knowledge continues to be shared, we’re doubling down on virtual collaboration efforts by exploring ways to keep researchers connected; so far this has included facilitating webinars and journal clubs and participating in virtual hackathons.
And we won’t stop. We’re here to ensure you have all the information you need, and that you feel supported and connected. We’d like to hear from you about your own experience of cancer in the time of COVID-19, as well as any feedback regarding the kind of information that could help you better manage your physical and mental health during this time. Your stories and comments will help us to shape how and what we share, with the aim of being as relevant, practical and helpful as possible, so please do get in touch with the team at info@movember.com.
We’re here for you, and we will get through this together.