Brendan Jones cultivates mustache for men's health

The 50-year-old is still mourning the death of his father Geoff, who died of lung cancer in 2014.

"It's hard not to be moved," said Jones, a father of three.

"It's terrible to watch the decline of someone with whom you are so close.

"I find it very difficult to go to the hospital now because of what happened to dad. It also made me confront my own mortality. "

Before his father died of lung cancer, he also survived an episode of prostate cancer.

The cancer was detected in 2009 as a result of a prostate-specific antigen test organized by his employer. Qantas pilots are subject to regular health checks to make sure they are fit to fly.

Jones said that his father, like many men of this generation, would not have been subject to regular health checks if he was not obliged to do so.

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A prostate cancer will be diagnosed in one in eight Australians in 75 years.

"After my father's diagnosis of prostate cancer, it pushed me to start thinking about my own health," he said.

"As a result, the doctor submits me to an annual exam including the PSA test, cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure."

Jones is for the first time ambassador of Movember to ensure that men undergo a regular checkup.

The foundation provides millions of dollars for research on suicide prevention in men, as well as prostate and testicular cancer. By 2030, their goal is to reduce by 25% the number of men who died prematurely.

Movember spokeswoman Rachel Carr said the campaign this year had recruited 82,000 people to raise funds, a 12% increase over last year.

"So far, we have raised $ 13.5 million for this campaign, but there is still a lot of work to be done," she said.

"It is not yet too late to sign up to raise money and prevent men from dying too young."

* For more information. go to https://au.movember.com/