Five Signs You're Missing the Menopause Memo and Why It Matters!

Well men, it is World Menopause Day and before you start thinking "Well, that's not really about me," you might want to reconsider.

Whether it is your wife, partner, sister, colleague, friend or a woman leading your team, menopause could be affecting someone whose contribution you value. The question is whether you are recognising what is happening or making assumptions that aren't helping anybody.

Pause.

Before you congratulate yourself on being the understanding partner, supportive colleague or switched-on brother, let us see how many of these five menopause signs you have spotted and how many have been hiding in plain sight while you thought you had everything under control!

Let's Talk Prostrate Cancer

Together with Stephen Fry, Colin McFarlane, David Cameron, Steve McQueen, Jeremy Clarkson and Nick Jones, I’ve (#RishiSunack) written to the Health Secretary about prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer among men in Britain. It kills one man every 45 minutes, many after a diagnosis too late for treatment to succeed. Black men face a 1 in 4 lifetime risk, double that of the general population, and men whose fathers or brothers have had the disease face a similar threat.

In May the National Screening Committee refused to extend screening beyond a group of just 1,500 men with one specific genetic variant. Everyone else at high risk doesn't have guaranteed access to a test that could save their life.

We believe that's wrong, and that the Secretary of State has both the evidence and the power to overturn the ruling. More than 25…

The Most Dangerous Silence In The Room:

When Success Teaches Men To Hide.

Some men do not look as though they are struggling.

They are leading businesses, managing teams, paying mortgages, raising children, supporting parents and solving everybody else's problems. Their diary remains full. The suit still goes on. The meeting still gets chaired. The business still opens in the morning.

 NEW SUPPORT GROUP LAUNCHING IN NORTHFIELD

Living with prostate cancer or supporting someone who is?

You don’t have to do it alone.

Join us for the launch of our brand-new Prostate Cancer Support Group, in partnership with

Come Let Us Community Project Launch meeting takes place on Friday 11th September between  6:00pm – 8:00pm (UK) at the Northfield Methodist Church, Chatham Road, Birmingham B31 2PH

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PROSTATE CANCER

For our first Wellbeing Wednesday, let’s talk about staying active for your health and wellbeing.

 FREE PUREGYM MEMBERSHIP

PureGym is offering a free one-year membership to eligible men with prostate cancer on hormone therapy. Scan the poster QR code to check your eligibility.

You don’t need a gym to be active, though walking, gardening, swimming, cycling, and dancing all count too!

Heatwave Update for the Lads

While women across the country are dealing with the double challenge of menopause and a summer heatwave, it is worth checking in on the men too. No, men are not battling hot flushes, night sweats or hormonal curveballs, but that does not mean they are gliding through this weather unscathed.

In true fashion, many men are simply pretending they are fine.

The "I'll Just Finish This One Job" Syndrome

Let's be honest. A suspicious number of men treat extreme heat as a minor inconvenience rather than what it really is. A genuine health risk.

Brothers, Are “Neutral” Standards Quietly Pushing Talented Black Men Out?

New US Navy Policy on Shaving Waivers: What It Means for Black Men, Barber Shops and Every Serious Leader

The US Navy is ending permanent medical shaving waivers for razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae or PFB).

Paid Focus Group Opportunity for Black Men in London

Dr Tanisha Spratt and Dr Nkasi Stoll are inviting Black British men to participate in a focus group exploring how joy supports health and wellbeing in everyday life.

The discussion forms part of the Black Joy as Anti-Racist Praxis Study, based at King's College London and funded by Wellcome Trust.

Date: 29 July, 2:00–3:30PM

Location: In person, in London

The Most Dangerous Symptom of Alzheimer's Is Not  Memory Loss. It Is Silence.

You built the exit strategy. You know your succession plan cold. You have done diligence on every deal that ever crossed your desk.

Now ask yourself: when was the last time you did diligence on your own mind?

Most people picture Alzheimer's as forgotten names and misplaced keys. For the people in this group, the real cost looks different.

It is the founder who will not step back from the board he no longer serves. The investor whose judgment has quietly slipped, but whose reputation still opens doors, so no one says anything. The exec who mistakes early warning signs for stress, because admitting otherwise feels like conceding weakness in rooms where weakness has a price.

The Silent Health Crisis Facing Men:

Why Too Many Men Are Dying Before Their Time

What if the greatest threat to men's health isn't heart disease, cancer or diabetes?

What if it's an idea?

The Most Dangerous Lie Many Men Were Taught Was Not "Do Not Cry." It Was "Carry It Alone."

June is Men's Mental Health Month.

Yet perhaps the most important conversation we need to have is not about mental health it is about inheritance. Not the inheritance measured in money, property or possessions. The inheritance measured in beliefs, behaviours, coping mechanisms and emotional habits passed from one generation to the next.

Look closely at the image above and you begin to see a story that stretches far beyond one individual. What appears to be a campaign about wellbeing is actually a reflection on culture, identity and the invisible burdens many men carry throughout their lives. Behind every statistic sits a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a husband, a colleague or a friend who has learned, often from an early age, that strength means carrying the weight alone.

For many…

The Silent Crisis for Sober Men:

How Do You Handle Stress Without a Drink or a Smoke?

In a world where alcohol and cigarettes have long served as the default "reset buttons" for male stress, a growing number of men are choosing a different path and quietly struggling with the void it leaves behind.

Living Well Regardless of Chronic Illness

Calling All Men!!

Join us for Day 3 of Live Well Regardless, a powerful event focused on men’s health, wellbeing, resilience, and community.

This is a safe, uplifting space where men living with chronic conditions including lupus, diabetes, sickle cell, cancer, hypertension, autoimmune illnesses and more can connect, learn and be heard.

Expect honest conversations, a film screening and panel discussion, practical financial advice, wellbeing support, networking, music, food, games and positive 90s vibes throughout the day.

BrothaTalk Spotlight Craig Williams:

Closing the Gap Between Effort and Real Results

You are doing the work… so why are the results not matching the effort?

That is the question more people are asking, quietly, behind gym memberships, step counts and countless attempts to “get back on track.” 

This is not a motivation problem. It is not even a discipline problem. It is a gap, between what people are doing and what actually works for their body, their lifestyle and the demands of modern life.

Come Here, Rude Boy… When Did You Last Check Your Fertility?

There is a quiet assumption shaping the way men approach fertility. It shows up in conversations, in search histories and increasingly in content like the image you have just seen.

The belief is simple. Eat better and everything will follow.

Walnuts. Salmon. Eggs. Pumpkin seeds.

All good choices. All backed by science.

Calling All Men Over 40

It Could Save Your Life.

We know it saves lives, we had someone who got in touch. "I had no symptoms, didn't feel unwell, but got tested anyway. A raised level was detected, I was advised to get it checked out.

Yes, it was Prostate Cancer, I was treated, now all is well. Thank you" They continue to have regular tests at our annual events.

Birmingham Prostate Cancer Support Group ( BPCSG)

Here are some general details about support groups:

• Purpose: Support groups like BPCSG aim to provide a platform for men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their families to connect, share experiences, and receive support from healthcare professionals and guest speakers.

• Benefits: Joining a support group can help individuals cope with their diagnosis, learn about treatment options, and gain emotional support from others who understand what they're going through

For further information visit: men@alfuk.com

No Man Should Face Prostate Cancer Alone

Some conversations save lives.

Prostate cancer affects thousands of men across the United Kingdom every year and Black men are statistically at significantly higher risk. Yet too many suffer in silence, unsure where to ask questions, process emotions or simply speak openly with others who understand.

The Birmingham Prostate Cancer Support Group is launching a new monthly space dedicated to men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their families. Partners and wives are welcome. Healthcare professionals and guest speakers will join sessions to provide information, reassurance, and clarity.

The first meeting takes place on 11th March 2026 at the Legacy Centre of Excellence, Birmingham.

The Quiet Crisis Facing Men.

There is a quiet shift happening beneath the surface of modern masculinity. It is not loud. It does not trend. But it is measurable, deadly and growing. Men are becoming more isolated, less connected and more likely to die by suicide and the data tells us this is not about weakness, but about systems, culture and silence colliding at the wrong moment.

This is not a story about individual failure. It is a story about patterns.

The Loneliness Gap Men Are Not Talking About

UK evidence shows that loneliness did not recede after lockdowns ended; it settled. The most recent Community Life Survey and Office for National Statistics data indicate that around 6–7 per cent of adults now feel lonely often or always, with nearly one in four experiencing loneliness at least some of the time.

It’s crushing news for Black men like me. I was fortunate that my prostate cancer was caught early enough to be cured.

For far too long, Black men’s lives have been left to chance, and here in the Midlands, far too many men know nothing about prostate cancer until they’re diagnosed, often when it’s already too late for treatment to save them.

I work hard to raise awareness with Prostate Cancer UK, but meaningful change in the UK has been desperately needed for years. It’s long overdue for the Government to act, so we can finally have confidence that lives will be saved and that we will no longer be left behind.

Still, I remain hopeful for a better future. Prostate Cancer UK has now launched the TRANSFORM trial, aiming to bring screening to all men across the UK, with initial results expected in just a couple of years. We…

What Your Sperm Color Might Be Telling You 

Let’s talk health, the kind too many men avoid.

Most men do not realise that their semen colour can be an important signal of what is happening inside their body. Before you scroll past, understand this. Sexual and reproductive health is not just about performance, it is about protection, prevention and longevity. 

Green Sperm 

When Menopause Enters the Room and Men Are Still Expected to Be Silent

Let’s start with a question.

What happens when the woman you love begins to change and no one ever told you why?

Menopause is often framed as a “women’s issue” but for many Black and South Asian men, it is a silent storm that sweeps through the home, the bedroom and the heart without warning, without language and without support.

Men are taught to be strong. Stoic. Providers.

From Statistics to Survival

The Unseen Crisis of Health

There is a quiet crisis unfolding in the health of Black men. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black men in America have the lowest life expectancy of any demographic group, nearly five years shorter than white men.

The Black Men’s Self -Love Workbook

Created by Aswad Aarif, this workbook is designed for brothers who are ready to start the work of healing, growing and learning to show themselves the same love they give others.

The Black Men’s Self-Love Workbook is a guide to help brothers heal, reflect and build a healthier relationship with themselves. Inside are tools for managing stress, navigating trauma and cultivating inner peace.

Self-love is not an indulgence, it is the foundation for your wellness.

This book is an invitation to slow down, care for yourself, and connect with what matters most to you.

Prostate Cancer:

Get Tested. Do Not Let GP Gatekeeping Cost Your Life

Every great story has a turning point. For Black men in the UK, that turning point might be a simple blood test. Yet too many never reach it. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and while it often grows silently, it kills loudly, claiming Black men’s lives at twice the rate of their white peers.

Neuroscience shows that we humans underestimate hidden risks. When there are no symptoms, the brain’s “optimism bias” whispers that everything is fine. But biology does not wait for awareness.

Early testing is the only way to catch this disease before it spreads and every year of delay means more fathers, sons and brothers lost.

Prostate Cancer, Why Waiting Costs Lives!

Brothas, this is straight talk.

Prostate cancer often has no symptoms early on, which is why so many men get blindsided.

In the UK, Black men face double the risk. 1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer (compared with 1 in 8 White men). Black men are also more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, when treatment options shrink and outcomes worsen

This is not just a UK story. In the U.S., Black men have a 67% higher incidence and are about twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as White men. Those gaps reflect later diagnosis and unequal access to timely care not biology alone.

You Don’t Need Everything to Be Perfect to Feel Worthy

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that our value is measured by our output. That worth only comes once we’ve “made it.” A promotion, a flawless bank account, a home that looks like a magazine spread. But the truth is, this belief is quietly stealing our wellbeing. Perfection is a moving target and chasing it often leaves us exhausted, disconnected and questioning ourselves.

In conversations with brothers from every walk of life; entrepreneurs, professionals, artists, fathers, there is a pattern. It’s not the work itself that breaks us. It’s the relentless, unspoken rules they’ve adopted about what it means to “deserve” peace or pride. These rules aren’t written anywhere, but they’re etched into habits and self-talk.

Here are five perfection-driven traps that quietly sabotage your mental health and create cycles of stress and anxiety:

1. Measuring worth only by achievement:…

Have You Been Tested Yet?

Too many of our brothers are leaving it too late. Prostate cancer doesn’t always shout, it whispers and by the time it gets loud, the fight is much harder.

Getting tested early isn’t just about you. It’s about time! More time to laugh with your children, share wisdom with your nephews, hold your partner’s hand or watch your grandchildren grow.

These three men caught it early. Due to the fact that they acted, they gained not just years, but moments, memories that might never have happened otherwise. Their stories are a reminder,. Men you cannot put this off.

Brothas, your health is your power. Do not wait until something feels wrong. Get checked. Get peace of mind.

When Men Cry.

The Hidden Cost of Emotional Silence!

 “Men cry. Men struggle” but saying it and living it are two very different things, especially for Black men.

For generations, masculinity has been policed by silence. Men are taught that tears are weakness, breakdowns are failure and vulnerability is something to be feared. Yet the research tells another story.

According to a CDC report, suicide rates among Black men aged 15–24 increased by 47% between 2013 and 2019. And Dr. Wizdom Powell, a leading health disparities researcher and clinical psychologist, warns that “emotional stoicism among Black men is literally killing us.”

Brothas, It’s Time To Check In!

"The cultural expectation to “be strong” or “man up” leads to delayed help-seeking and underreporting of symptoms, especially around depression, anxiety, or chronic pain."

During Men’s Health Week (9–15 June) this is a powerful reminder to pause, check in and take your well-being seriously, not just your physical health, but your emotional, mental and spiritual health too.

Let’s be real, Black men are least likely to seek help but most at risk.

In the UK, Black men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer and twice as likely to suffer a stroke. High blood pressure runs disproportionately high in BAME communities, often without early warning signs. And while the numbers are alarming, the silence is worse.

REWRITING THE RULES OF STRENGTH

In every corner of culture, men have been told a silent lie, that to feel is to falter. That to struggle is to fail. That to speak up is to show weakness. But here’s what the research and real life tell us, what’s unspoken is often what hurts us most.

Stress doesn’t always look like breaking down.

• Sometimes, it looks like powering through.

When the Truth Comes Late, Who Pays the Price?

We’ve fought for justice in the streets, in the boardrooms and in the courts—but what happens when justice gets murky in the most personal of places: the home, the heart and the family? The question in this image cuts deep: If a man pays child support for years and later finds out the child isn’t biologically his, should the woman repay him? That’s not just a legal issue—that’s a moral one. That’s a question of accountability. Of dignity. Of emotional and financial equity.

Brothas, we’re not talking about walking away from a child who needed love. We’re talking about truth withheld. Science has evolved. DNA doesn’t lie—but people do. And when a man stands up, does what’s right and invests…

Breaking the Silence: Raising Prostate Cancer Awareness in Black Men

Dr Eva McGrowder, Senior Trial Manager, The Institute of Cancer Research, shares insights on the increased risk of prostate cancer for Black men below.

Black men have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer due to several factors, many of which are interconnected and complex. Firstly, Black men are often diagnosed with prostate cancer at more advanced stages, which limits treatment options and decreases survival rates. This delay can be due to a variety of reasons, including lack of awareness, lower rates of screening, and limited access to healthcare resources.

Many Black men may not also fully understand their risk for prostate cancer or may be misinformed about the importance of early screening. This can lead to delays in seeking medical attention or in receiving regular screenings, both of which are crucial for early detection and better outcomes.

Lastly,…