Blue november. This is the name of the awareness campaign about the prostate cancer, second type of cancer most common among men, second only to skin cancer.
Held annually in November, the mobilization is made up of different types of actions. The sharing of information has the objective of alerting the population about the importance of early diagnosis.
The inspirations for the campaign came from both the Pink October and Movember (combination of the words 'moustache' and 'november', mustache and November in English respectively).
Pink October is the breast cancer awareness campaign. And Movember is an Australian initiative, created in 2003, on prostate cancer.
Around here it was Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida that started to hold the Blue November. Brasil Escola spoke with the founder and president of the organization, Marlene Oliveira, to learn more about this mobilization and how the actions are carried out.
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Institute Side by Side for Life
Founded in 2008, Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida is a social organization dedicated to the health of the men in the context of the two main causes of mortality in Brazil (cardiovascular diseases and cancer).
Between 2008 and 2010, the organization carried out the campaign “A touch, a dribble”. The initiative was aimed at men's health and the importance of early detection of prostate cancer. With the intention of making a national movement, in 2011, Blue November was created.
Credit: Disclosure.
One of the main objectives of the Blue November campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of detecting prostate cancer early. That is, encourage men to regularly carry out screening tests so that if there is a change, they can continue with the treatment.
The chance of healing tumor in case of early identification can reach 90%, highlights Marlene Oliveira.
“What has happened is that men arrive at the health system at a very advanced stage of the disease. This means that these men are not as successful in the treatment as they would be if it were at an early stage”.
Marlene Oliveira, founder and president of Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida
The actions of the Blue November campaign are carried out where men are and circulate, emphasizes Marlene. The spaces are diverse, such as a football stadium, companies, institutions, civil construction, press, transport and public environments, among others.
One of the institute's concerns is work informative messages for the different stages of man's life, from childhood to maturity. "Our goal is to ensure that the next generations take care of their health in a different way than what has happened", says Marlene Oliveira.
Regarding the negligence of men in relation to their own health, Marlene considers that it is necessary to "break down cultural walls" and create bridges of interlocution to achieve effective changes.
Public health
The relationship with the Unified Health System (SUS), according to Marlene, takes place in dialogues established with public authorities. These dialogues work to strengthen primary health care.
Marlene argues about the need for these spaces to be prepared to receive the population. In addition to adequate reception, it is essential that the service provides the process of treatment and follow-up of cases.
One of the guidelines discussed is theextension of opening hours to facilitate men's access to these services. This change would make it easier for most users who have availability at times other than business hours.
Last year, a study carried out by Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida pointed out that 62% of men only seek the public health service when they are experiencing severe pain.
Marlene also points out the importance of preventive actions as a mechanism to avoid high costs in public service.
Campaigns
In addition to Blue November, the institution carries out an awareness campaign in August "Breathe August" about lung cancer. In September, actions and activities focus on the campaign "Follow your heart" on cardiovascular disease.
The president of the institute mentions that throughout the other months of the year the action is directed at changing man's habits as a way of preventing these diseases.
LAL Research Center
The LAL Research Center was created in 2019 and is part of the projects developed and applied by Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida.
The objective is to carry out mapping and data surveys regarding the fronts defended by the organization: cancer, cardiovascular diseases and men's health.
The productions developed in this nucleus are used for decision-making in the development of public policies.
Marlene mentions the partnership that the Institute has with academic leagues of courses in Medicine. According to her, the intention of this approximation is to provoke cultural changes in the work of future doctors.
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Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer affects gland called the prostate which is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra.
Every 38 minutes a man dies from prostate cancer in Brazil, according to data from the National Cancer Institute (Inca). This is the most common type of tumor among those over 50 years old.
Last year alone, there were 16,055 fatalities from the disease, according to the Ministry of Health's Mortality Information System.
Prostate cancer accounts for 10% of all cancer deaths in the country. It is the second most lethal among men, behind only lung cancer.
Inca projects around 65,000 new cases of this type of cancer this year.
Read more -Abnormal multiplication of cells known as neoplasia
When to have a prostate exam?
Tests for detecting prostate cancer (digital rectal examination and PSA dosage) can be performed from the age of 40 onwards. people with a family history of the disease as well as people of African descent, since the tumor is more common in men black.
In other cases, men can seek to have these tests from the age of 45.
See the positive and negative points of these tests, according to Inca:
Benefits
- Simple to make;
- Contribute to early diagnosis;
- Facilitates treatment in case of early detection.
harm
- The result of the PSA exam can be elevated even in cases that are not cancer, as well as it can be normal in cases of malignant tumor;
- High PSA levels indicate the need for a prostate biopsy, and in many cases, cancer is not confirmed;
- Performing the biopsy can cause bleeding and infection, pain, anxiety and stress;
- The diagnosis and treatment of the tumor that does not pose a threat can generate anxiety and lead to urinary incontinence and sexual impotence.
Read too:Obesity and cardiovascular disease
Do not stop now... There's more after the publicity ;)
Blue november
The motto adopted in the Blue November 2022 campaign is #blueness. The intention is to alert men to have an attitude and be protagonists of their health.
In 2021, the campaign completed 10 years of existence. Check out some actions carried out last year:
- Illuminations throughout Brazil in blue, such as Christ the Redeemer and the National Congress;
- Exposure on subway lines;
- Exhibition 10 years of Blue November in the Federal Senate;
- Exhibition at Shopping Top Center in São Paulo (SP);
- Wash the Dito Cujo (penile hygiene awareness content).
More than 82 million people were impactedwith the Blue November campaign in the year 2020. In this edition, 1,500 lectures were held and 610 companies across the country engaged in the initiative.
Service
At the Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida website there are different materials such as booklets, articles, research and online debates.
To answer different types of questions about cancer, chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, mental health, sexuality, among other subjects, the institution has the 0800 LAL service channel.
Contact phone: 0800 222 2224
By Lucas Afonso
Journalist
Image credit:
* Adilson Sochodolak / Shutterstock
