By George Kolbe,
I’m in my 50s, which means I’ve reached the age where my reading glasses are always in the other room, my knees forecast the weather, and conversations with my doctor now begin with “At your age…”. It’s also the age when Movember stops being a fun excuse to grow questionable facial hair and becomes something far more personal.
Because here’s the thing about men like me: we’ll happily spend a weekend researching the perfect braai tongs but ask us to book a medical check-up and suddenly we’re too busy until 2031.
In my day job, I see how important financial protection can be when serious illness strikes. In 2025, Momentum Life Insurance paid R90 million in claims for prostate and testicular cancer across all benefit types. But the figure that really caught my attention was how that money was paid: R74 million in critical illness claims, and R15 million in death claims.
Most of that money was paid under benefits designed to support men living with cancer. It highlights an important financial reality: a cancer diagnosis can bring costs during treatment and recovery, including medical expenses and time away from work.
Cancer remains the leading cause of critical illness claims among our male clients, accounting for 36% of these claims in 2025. Prostate cancer alone made up 11.4% of all male critical illness claims.
And then there’s the statistic that made me sit up a little straighter in my chair. Among men aged 60 and over, prostate and testicular cancers accounted for 46% of cancer claims. Sixty is not that far off for me, and it may not be for you either.
Don’t wait for the warning light
Early prostate cancer often has no symptoms at all. That’s the bit we men tend to struggle with. We should treat our bodies better, just as we do our cars: take them for a regular service (health check) before the warning light comes on. Waiting for symptoms can mean missing the opportunity to detect prostate cancer early.
Speak to your doctor about your personal risk and whether a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is appropriate for you. The test can help identify changes that need further investigation, but it cannot diagnose cancer on its own. South African guidelines generally recommend considering screening from age 50, or from age 45 for black African men and men with a family history of prostate or breast cancer in a first-degree relative, such as a parent of sibling.
Testicular cancer is more common in younger men. CANSA recommends monthly testicular self-examinations from ages 15 to 49. Get to know what is normal for you and see a doctor promptly about any lump, swelling or change. It takes a few minutes. Awkward? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely.
And yes, the usual advice for supporting our overall health applies to all of us. Stay active, keep an eye on your weight, eat well, and go easy on the alcohol. I’m not saying give up the braai. I’m saying maybe add a salad to it.
Two appointments this Movember
So, here’s my challenge to every man reading this – and one I’m taking on myself. Make two appointments this month: one with your doctor and one with your financial adviser.
Growing a moustache is a great way to start the conversation. But the real win is acting on it. Know your risks, speak to your doctor about appropriate screening and make sure your financial plan protects you and your family through life’s uncertainties.
The moustache can go in December. The good habits should stay.
