Honouring Movember and the importance of men’s health
November marked the annual celebration of what has become known as “Movember”, a month-long event highlighting the importance of men’s health, which involves the growing of a moustache.
In light of that, we spoke to one of our UK Senior Account Mangers, Dan Sharples, who shared his incredible story of overcoming cancer at a young age, what Movember means to him, and what he believes we can all do in support of men’s health beyond the month of November.
Hi Dan, for those that don’t know, I wonder if you could kick us off with a brief overview of your role at CSM…
I’m a Senior Account Manager on our Jack Daniel’s account here at CSM. I am part of the team that manage the brand’s partnership with McLaren Formula 1 team across the globe. Specifically, I assist our markets with everything from On and Off Trade promotion, Global Travel Retail, market activations, through to delivering local at track hospitality and consumer programs.
Thanks, Dan. Today, we are here to talk about something that has extra meaning for you, and that is Movember. What does the month long event mean to you?
Not only is Movember a chance to attempt to grow a moustache, for me it’s also a reminder of what I went through after receiving a testicular cancer diagnosis at the age of 25, the importance of family and friendship, as well as what I’ve overcome since then.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis at 25 is something no one really thinks they will have to worry about and whilst you might hear the odd story about someone you know getting sick, you never really expect that person to be you.
For me, I had just moved to London from New Zealand a few months earlier and was settling into a life on the other side of the world. I was finally getting to a point where I thought I was starting to get my life in order and had it all figured out. That was until I woke up one morning in excruciating pain, unable to walk, with one of my testicles feeling like it had doubled in size. From there it was a series of scans and tests over a couple of weeks, before receiving the words that you hope you never hear.
“I’m sorry to tell you but you have cancer”.
After receiving my diagnosis, I flew back to New Zealand and underwent surgery to remove a four centimetre tumour on my left testicle within 24 hours of touching down back home. Further tests revealed four further tumours in my abdomen and chest and a few long months of treatment ahead. The chemotherapy programme was intense. I would spend up to six hours a day, five days a week undergoing treatment in hospital. I lost my hair, got breathless walking up a flight of stairs and at times barely had enough energy to get out of bed in the morning.
Receiving a diagnosis like that affected me physically through the treatment but it also took a toll on my mental health. Whilst all my friends were pursuing their careers, travelling the world or accomplishing their goals, I was stuck in hospital, getting pumped full of drugs that in the end might not work. There were some dark days in the middle of it all but thankfully my family and friends supported me and got me through those tough times. After three months of nonstop treatment, I was thankfully in remission.
Movember provided me with the opportunity to share my story and how it felt whilst going through a men’s health illness. It showed me the importance of talking about our issues, how to overcome adversity but also reminds me of what I’ve overcome.
What have you learnt about yourself through your experience with your own health?
Its taught me a lot about perspective and what actually is important to me. Quite often we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to progress our careers, buy a house and settle down as that is what we are told we need to achieve. What I learnt during my experience is that all that means nothing if you’re not here and able to enjoy it. Rather than focusing too much on the end result, I found that you need to enjoy the process along the way and embrace the ups and downs you might face because ultimately they will have a bigger impact on you and your overall wellbeing, rather than the result itself.
When it comes to my professional career, I am a lot more relaxed and feel like I don’t often get stressed or overwhelmed at work. In reality that deadline to complete a project is important, but it’s not worth losing sleep over. I also have found the importance of having an activity you do regularly in order to de-stress. For me it’s running. I often just go for a run to relax after a long day or to clear the head when I start to feel overwhelmed by something.
Do you think there is a link between the power of sport and getting men to open up about their health?
Sport and emotions go hand in hand. Whether its celebration of success, anguish in defeat, sport is one of the few places where men often show their emotions. As much as we try to deny it, collectively men are terrible at opening up and sharing our emotions. Sport is one of the few environments where we can break down those barriers, and talk about the deep and meaningful things whilst not feeling exposed.
Sport is routinely about teamwork and camaraderie, which can create a supportive environment and encourage men to share their concerns and experiences with teammates, fostering a sense of belonging and trust. Also, high-profile athletes often serve as role models for individuals, including men. When athletes openly discuss their own health challenges or advocate for health awareness, it can inspire others to do the same.
After my diagnosis and treatment to help get me back on track, both physically and mentally, I gave myself the challenge of running a marathon almost a year to the day from finishing chemotherapy. For me it was a chance to prove to myself that the diagnosis and treatment had not had a negative effect on me, and to prove to others that a cancer diagnosis doesn’t define who you are.
Training started with 1km jog with a mate and I was exhausted. Throughout the year, I would often go on runs with family, friends and at times complete strangers. As soon as I told my story and why I was running, they in turn would open up about their struggles. I completed the Queenstown marathon, raising £15,000 in the process, as a way to inspire other men into believing that a health problem doesn’t define who you are. Instead, how you deal with it does.
What advice would you give to someone reading this now who may be struggling or worried about their health?
The first thing I would say to anyone is to reach out to a healthcare professional, such as your GP or local doctor, to discuss your any concerns around their own mental or physical health. They’re best placed to provide accurate information based on your specific situation. But I would also encourage them to talk to friends and family about their worries and concerns. Sharing these with people close to you can be a helpful way to alleviate stress and receive support.
Finally I would advise men to schedule regular check-ups and screenings in order to monitor their health and catch any potential issues early. Cancers specific to men, such as testicular and prostate cancer, both have a high survival rate if caught early. Becoming accustomed to what is ‘normal’ in your own body is really important, particularly from an early age before any changes may develop.
What do you think organisations can do to support the drive to break the stigma associated with men’s health?
Most organisations promote and implement comprehensive health and wellness programmes that include information about physical and mental health. These programmes can provide resources, workshops, and seminars to help educate employees about the importance of overall well-being and ensure that employees have easy access to resources on preventive measures, common health issues, and mental health support.
I feel organisations could go to the next step by providing incentives or supporting employees in scheduling and attending health appointments during work hours. Not just for men but for all employees; normalising preventive care can contribute to early detection and the management of health issues. Also through recognising the importance of mental health and creating an environment that supports employees in seeking help when needed helps break down the stigma.
Finally through conducting training sessions to educate employees about the importance of open communication regarding health and the information about support services and resources, emphasise that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. For example, women are considered to be a lot better at talking about how they feel than men and play a really important role in getting men to open up about their health struggles. Making sure that they are aware of what signs to look out for or what to do if they’re concerned about their husband, brother, father or friend, is extremely important!
By taking these steps, organisations can contribute to creating a culture that values and prioritises men’s health, ultimately breaking down the stigma associated with discussing health-related issues in the workplace.
