Movember – Why Amanda Nevins is shaving her head this Men’s Health Month

As part of Movember (Men’s Health Month) our clerical assistant, Amanda Nevins, will be shaving her head to raise awareness around men’s cancers. Read her story below:

What I’m doing this Movember

Every Movember, I try to do something to encourage the men in my life (and also my sistas) to spread the word around men’s health and men’s cancers.

Normally, I would run a 5k, and despite being post-menopausal my moustache growing skills don’t quite count, so this year I have decided to ask a few of my colleagues to bring some clippers in to work and shave my head down to a number one (buzz cut).

It’s a crazy idea and I’ll need a lot of hats considering it’s November, but I hope that it can at least spark conversation and raise awareness about men’s health and how important it is.

How cancer has affected my friends and family

I have family and friends who have been through and survived men’s cancer because they got tested and found it early. Recently some of my close friends have had to support their husbands through the tough cancer diagnosis and later treatment.

Cancer diagnosis is devastating and affects everyone in the family. Often, they are being so strong in their support we forget the ladies need support too.

Both men are now well, and the good thing that came out of this was that they were both happy and keen to share their experience with male friends, encouraging them to go get tested.

It is so important to get tested, and early diagnosis can make such a difference.

Spreading the word

I love to advocate and encourage men with mental ill health issues to find someone they can talk to, as talking can help significantly. There are so many great links to resources and projects on the Movember website.

Men grow those moustaches, and ladies let’s keep supporting our men. Let’s keep talking!