This month, The Royal Gazette is giving considerable coverage to male health issues as part of the "Movember" campaign organised by the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre.

None of this diminishes the severity of others forms of cancer, or those that mainly affect women.

However, men are often reluctant to get tested for cancer, particularly for prostate cancer, which requires a sensitive test.

That's short-sighted, because the risks of not getting tested are enormous, and can cause expense, pain and suffering, not only for the victim but for their families.

Testing is not the only way to avoid these problems. Wellness programmes and healthy lifestyle make a major difference.

As Rhonda Smith-Simmons of the BCHC said on Tuesday, the leading causes of death for men are respiratory diseases, including heart disease, cancer and "external factors" like road crashes or homicides.

However, diabetes, whose frequency is rising, can exacerbate heart disease and can cause massive lifestyle changes.

All of these problems can be reduced by leading healthier lifestyles.

Poor diets are major causes of diabetes and of heart disease, and many cancers can be treated if detected early enough.

Quitting smoking, laying off of alcohol, eating healthier foods and getting more exercise are all simple lifestyle steps that can prevent illness.

Changing behaviours can be heavily affected by public awareness, and that's why this newspaper is supporting "Movember" in which men are growing moustaches and raising funds for men's medical research. It's worth it.