Movember is coming

November is around the corner, but have you heard about Movember? Movember —the “mo” stands for moustache—is an international month-long event aimed at increasing awareness of the cancers that men face. The event encourages men to see and talk with their doctors for heath maintenance and cancer screening.


Men who participate start Movember 1 with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Jonathan Wright, UW assistant professor of urology and affiliate investigator at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, is leading the charge for Movember at UW Medical Center. He said that he wants to not only raise awareness about male cancers, but also wants to help raise the profile of UW urologic oncology.

“With UW Medicine, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, we have one of the best cancer care programs in the country,” he said. “I hope that by taking part in Movember, we’ll raise awareness about male cancers and encourage more men to talk with their doctors.”

Wright and colleagues study risk factors related to prostate cancer as well as the role of obesity and nutrition in prostate cancer. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men between the ages of 15 and 35, said Wright. UW physician Daniel Lin, Wright and Janet Stanford, UW research professor of epidemiology based at the Hutch, have also studied male pattern baldness and prostate cancer risk. "Movember is a good way for us to showcase the work that we do here, including research and patient care," he said.

Last year, Movember raised over $80 million worldwide to help support the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the LIVESTRONG Lance Armstrong Foundation. Researchers from UW Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center receive awards from the Prostate Cancer Foundation to further research efforts.

The UW team, also known as MoDawgs , is seeking additional participants. Visit the Movember website for more details or Wright.