Movember
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Well that's it, last shave for my upper lip for Movember. I've a rough idea of which area to skip with the razor blade each morning. I'll wait-see what I'm getting before deciding if I want to go for a style or just leave to become a bushy mat. Towards the end I could experiment - and photograph a variety of increasingly smaller styles ending up with that tiny little thing commonly associated with a particular national leader - some here might suggest that's the most apposite choice for me
Last time I grew facial hair, it was sideburns when they were cool - the hair turned out ginger - if so I'll look a right mess for the remainder of the month as I'm sporting silver-grey locks nowadays - not out of choice though
As this month is about raising awareness of men's health issues I'd like to dispel a common belief about being tested for Prostate Cancer - namely that it involves an embarrassing internal rectal examination. Many moons ago, when working as a nurse it was indeed common-place - even on the preliminary admission medical - that the doctor would slap on a glove to examine the prostate gland to determine size, shape and texture to form an opinion. Not so no more. An abnormal prostate gland excretes high levels of a particular chemical which can be identified in a simple blood test. Now that test is not routinely performed by the NHS service but can be asked for - and should be performed on request. Reasons to ask: Is your urine stream disrupted in any way? Does it take time to start? Is the flow restricted? Do you have to "push" the urine out? Do you have to take particular care in your toilet visit to make sure dribbles do not soil your clothes? If so, realise that there is a much more common reason for these symptoms.... If your bowel is full of faeces, and/or are prone to constipation that faecal mass can press upon the internal urine tubing - the prostate gland and urethra - causing a temporary restriction or even blockage of urine flow. So consider your flow when you know your bowels are clear - has it improved? Another reason for asking is your family medical history - did any of your immediate family - father, uncles, grandfathers have problems in this area? If they are still around - be bold - ask them directly, such is the nature of manly pride it might not be something they have mentioned or passed on to you. Even having a female relative with history of breast cancer increases the risk of Prostate Cancer as there are links to particular genes which can be carried by both male and females. So if in doubt check it out, best be sure. Prostate Cancer UK has a brilliant web-site: http://prostatecanceruk.org/ Which has phone numbers for their specialist nurse team who will talk in confidence. There's also a great infographic here: http://prostatecanceruk.org/information/who-is-at-risk/infographic-what-is-my-risk 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer at some time in their life. And your ethnicity is also important 1 in 4 Black men in the UK will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lives... Read it through - your quality of life may benefit from spending a few minutes... Martin
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McClaren F1 racing team have called all their team to arms for Movember:
Martin
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That is great, Martin.
Hope it catches on in the general international racing circuit! I used to walk by the childhood home of the man (where his parents and younger brother still lived) who won the Daytona 500 in 1963... "everyday" to and from grade school. His younger brother was in high school at the time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Lund
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More news related to this campaign: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-24772626 The Cerne Abbas Giant sported a 'tache briefly for a day. Quite fittingly, considering his other "physique", for a campaign promoting better awareness in those two main "embarrassing" men's health issues - Prostate and Testicular Cancers. Martin
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Not doing this (mainly because any attempt at a moustache would be pathetic!!) but certainly up for supporting any scheme that increases awareness of prostate/testicular cancer and mental health. Unfortunately I can't help but feel the message behind this scheme has got a little bit lost and could probably do with some re-inforcement.
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Well it had to be done
Here's my first update on my attempt:
Of course I don't think that does it justice, I've reached the point where I'm preening it - maybe in hope that might encourage it to sprout faster? I agree that the message about men's health issues do have to carry forward loud and clear - although it could be said that this campaign is about raising money which will enable the charities concerned to actually do that in a more meaningful way over a longer period. I have followed up my personal interest in prostate cancer and looked across at testicular cancer. Quite surprising the difference between the two, it seems that, while prostate cancer mainly afflicts the older man, testicular cancer is the opposite - the age range at risk is from puberty 15 or so up to 44 or so. So my personal risk period has passed. The risk per person is considerably smaller - about 1 in 100 men might develop this cancer - but that remains a significant risk. I suppose in managing this similarities can be drawn between the advice given to women regarding self-examination of their breasts - although while that seems to be given out regularly to young women I've never heard of any group of young men being taught how to examine their testicles for unusual lumps or tenderness. Again it seems to be this taboo of discussing such personal things affects not only those that should be receiving the advice but also those that should be offering it. There have been a few exceptions recently with a few high-profile sportsmen sharing their own stories of personal testicular cancer here in the UK, such good role models might well help break through social taboos. So any fund raising monies Movember raises may well prove invaluable in continuing that work breaking down these barriers. So to paraphrase Bruce Forsyth from Strictly Come Dancing... Keeep Sprouting! Martin
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martinput:
Quite surprising the difference between the two, it seems that, while prostate cancer mainly afflicts the older man, testicular cancer is the opposite - the age range at risk is from puberty 15 or so up to 44 or so. So my personal risk period has passed. The risk per person is considerably smaller - about 1 in 100 men might develop this cancer - but that remains a significant risk. I suppose in managing this similarities can be drawn between the advice given to women regarding self-examination of their breasts - although while that seems to be given out regularly to young women I've never heard of any group of young men being taught how to examine their testicles for unusual lumps or tenderness. Again it seems to be this taboo of discussing such personal things affects not only those that should be receiving the advice but also those that should be offering it. There have been a few exceptions recently with a few high-profile sportsmen sharing their own stories of personal testicular cancer here in the UK, such good role models might well help break through social taboos.
You make a very good point about testicular cancer, I don't think enough people are aware that testicular cancer is generally a young man's disease and it's definitely a message that needs to be put out there.
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Latest update pic:
So 20 days old 10 more days to go. At the moment minded to shave it off come the 1st December. While it's not ginger, it's reflecting my hair a salt and pepper mix. Sadly pepper on the left - salt on the right. Getting some notice at work - enabling a chat about the charitable purpose of Movember. Martin
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Increasingly decided to remove this on the 1st December. Don't like the way it interferes with eating and drinking. Couldn't enjoy a fruit smoothie today, while I didn't have a mirror handy, was convinced I was being left with a fruit froth moustache after each sip. So self consciously kept wiping my upper lip. And I was alone at home - imagine how I might feel in public? Still I can wear my Movember Wolf t-shirt with satisfied pride and will consider doing it all again next year. Martin
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Just met two guys at work who are growing mustaches for Movember, didn't realize it was in the States too. Can't wait to see your final moustache Martin. Thanks for the progress photos!
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Early post today
Here's the final Mo:
Now where's that clipper! What you see did have a small trim before the end of the month as the lower hairs were annoying - tickling my lower lip and - as I felt - collecting my food and drink. I kept wiping it for fear of looking silly. So it's off with it now. Interesting journey - there were quite a few joining in at work, it'll be interesting to see how many are kept beyond today. We had some much more ambitious Mo's around - the Mexican Mo was very popular with the ends growing down to the chin line. In fact there were so many it might be worth forming a team Movember group with suitable advance publicity next year. Our employer is the sort that encourages staff getting involved in Charitable work and might well be persuaded to promise a pound for pound fund match. We have branches all around the UK and could have an inter-depot competition. We have a company Intranet and a house magazine to publish MoPics.... Lord help me, what am I talking myself into?
Martin
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You did a great job of it, I think your plan for next year sounds interesting. A friend of mine grew a mustache for Movember. I thought he looked quite handsome, however he shaved it off. It's a great charity